The Abuja Federal High Court has issued a stern warning to the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, threatening him with imprisonment for alleged contempt of court.
The court’s threat came in response to the DSS’s repeated disobedience of its ruling regarding visitation rights for Nnamdi Kanu, who is in the custody of the secret police.
In a notice issued to the DSS DG, the court cautioned him to adhere to its orders or face legal consequences.
The notice, made available by Kanu’s lead counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, explicitly stated that failure to comply would result in a charge of Contempt of Court, potentially leading to imprisonment.
The court’s order, issued by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako on May 20, 2024, modified the conditions for Kanu’s legal visitation rights.
It allowed Kanu to meet with up to five of his lawyers in a designated “clean” room at the State Security Services facility where he is detained. This modification aimed to ensure Kanu’s legal team could adequately prepare him for trial and guarantee him a fair legal process.
Despite the court’s directive, the DSS has reportedly continued to disregard the order, prompting the court’s warning to the agency’s leadership.
The notice, acknowledged by DSS operatives Tina James and Fatima Abdul, underscores the court’s commitment to upholding its rulings and ensuring compliance with legal procedures.
As the legal battle surrounding Kanu’s case continues, the threat of contempt charges against the DSS DG underscores the gravity of the situation and the court’s determination to enforce its orders in the pursuit of justice.