The Director General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has directed operatives of the agency not to arrest people over civil matters.
Ajayi said the directive was part of reforms aimed at strengthening respect for the rule of law, accountability and human rights within the agency.
According to him, the DSS has adopted a clearer distinction between civil disputes and criminal matters, stressing that force should not be used to resolve civil disagreements.
He said, “You cannot apply the use of force in civil matters. Even some criminal matters don’t require force.”
Ajayi explained that in civil disputes, the agency would rather allow the courts to determine the matter than resort to arrest.
He cited the case involving Professor Pat Utomi and a dispute involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, as examples where the DSS opted for judicial processes.
The DSS boss also said the agency would continue to approach the courts in matters involving journalists where necessary, instead of using arrest as a first response.
He reiterated, “I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case.”
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