The Director-General of the Department of State Services DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has directed operatives of the agency to stop arresting individuals over civil matters.
Ajayi disclosed this in a media interview on Thursday, saying the directive was part of reforms aimed at strengthening adherence to the rule of law and improving the DSS’s human rights record.
He said the reforms introduced since he assumed office focused on five areas: law enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, accountability, respect for human rights, and infrastructural and administrative improvements.
According to him, the reforms have also helped the agency draw a clearer line between civil and criminal matters, noting that the DSS previously conflated the two.
“You cannot apply the use of force in civil matters. Even some criminal matters don’t require force,” Ajayi said.
He cited the case involving political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, over allegations linked to an attempt to establish a “shadow government”, saying the DSS chose to seek judicial interpretation rather than arrest him.
“Rather than arrest him, we sought judicial interpretation. And the Court ruled that his adventure was unconstitutional, illegal, and a threat to national security,” he added.
Ajayi also referenced a case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, which sued over allegations that two DSS operatives invaded its premises. He said the matter was handled through the courts without any arrest and that the court eventually awarded more than N100 million in favour of the organisation.
Asked whether the DSS now prefers the courts in civil matters, Ajayi said, “Yes. I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case.”
He added that the agency would also prefer legal action in cases involving journalists, describing them as “professional colleagues” whose role is to inform the public, while the DSS informs the government through classified information.