DSS DG Bans Arrests Over Civil Matters, Orders Operatives to Use Courts

The Director-General of the Department of State Services, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has directed DSS operatives not to arrest people over civil matters.

Ajayi disclosed this in a media interview on Thursday, explaining that the directive was part of efforts to strengthen respect for the law and improve the agency’s record on human rights.

The DSS boss said he had introduced reforms in five major areas since taking office, including law enforcement, cooperation with other agencies, accountability, respect for human rights and administrative reforms.

According to him, the reforms have also helped the agency clearly separate civil disputes from criminal matters.

Ajayi said his experience had shown that civil and criminal matters were previously sometimes treated in the same way by the DSS.

He stressed that force should not be used to settle civil disputes, adding that even some criminal cases may not require the use of force.

The DSS Director-General cited the case involving political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, who was accused of attempting to establish a “shadow government.”

He said that instead of arresting Utomi, the DSS went to court to seek a legal interpretation of the matter.

According to Ajayi, the court later ruled that the alleged action was unconstitutional, illegal and a threat to national security.

He also mentioned a case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, which had approached the court over allegations that two DSS operatives invaded its office.

Ajayi said the matter was handled through the court without any arrest, and the court eventually awarded more than ₦100 million in favour of SERAP.

The DSS boss confirmed that the agency would now rely on the courts when dealing with civil matters.

“Yes. I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case,” Ajayi said.

He also explained that the DSS and journalists have different roles, saying journalists inform the public while the agency provides information to the government.

Ajayi said information available to the DSS remains classified until the agency decides that it can be made public.

The directive marks a clearer position by the DSS on how its operatives should handle civil disputes and is part of the agency’s wider reforms.

The DSS said the approach is aimed at ensuring that matters that belong in court are handled through the proper legal process rather than through arrests.

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