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, explaining that the directive was part of reforms aimed at strengthening the rule of law, improving respect for human rights and enhancing the agency’s accountability.
According to the DSS boss, he has introduced reforms across five key areas since assuming office: law enforcement, inter-agency cooperation, accountability, human rights and infrastructural and administrative development.
He said the reforms had helped the agency establish a clearer distinction between civil and criminal matters, noting that force should not be used to resolve civil disputes.
“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 surrounding an attempt to establish a “shadow government.” According to Ajayi, rather than arrest Utomi, the DSS sought judicial interpretation of the matter.
He said the court subsequently ruled that the alleged move was unconstitutional, illegal and a threat to national security.
Ajayi also referenced a case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which had approached the court over allegations that two DSS operatives invaded its premises.
He said the matter was handled through the courts without any arrests and that the court eventually awarded more than N100 million in favour of SERAP.
Asked whether the DSS would now rely on the courts in civil disputes, Ajayi responded in the affirmative.
“Yes. I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case,” he said.
The DSS director-general also said the agency would continue to engage journalists through lawful channels, describing them as “professional colleagues” whose role differs from that of the intelligence service.
He explained that while journalists provide information to the public, the DSS provides intelligence to the government, with its information remaining classified until officially declassified.
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