Olajengbesi made this known in a chat with The PUNCH on Sunday.

However, a source within the court said that judges are avoiding the matter because of its sensitive nature.

The source said, “In fact, two judges initially declined to take up the suit when it was assigned to their courts before it was taken up by Justice Obiora Egwuatu of the Federal High Court 9, Abuja.”

Recall that at least a dozen of Igboho’s associates were arrested and detained by the secret police on July 1 2021 after the DSS’ bloody raid of Igboho’s residence in the Soka area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The secret police also said that it “gunned down” two of the activist’s associates during a “gun duel” which Igboho narrowly escaped. He has later declared wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he denied.

Olajengbesi had earlier told The PUNCH that the secret police refused to grant him and the other lawyers on the case access to the 12 suspects detained by the DSS.

The detained persons, through their lawyers, subsequently sued the secret police and its director-general.

Olajengbesi on Sunday told The PUNCH that though Tuesday and Wednesday had been announced by the Federal Government as holidays to mark the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, the court insisted that it would hear the case on Tuesday.

The Federal High Court Judge issued a notice of consequences of disobedience of court order which is also known as form 48 on the DSS, stated that the DSS DG will be found guilty of contempt of court if he refuses to comply with the court order on release of Omoyele Sowore and Olawale Bakare.

The notice reads “Take notice that unless you obey the direction contained in the order of the federal high court of Justice, Abuja made on the 6th November 2019, which ordered you to release the defendants/applicants in suit no: FHC/ABJ/CR/235/2019 forthwith, you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison. A copy of the said order of court earlier served on you is hereby annexed for your on the spot reference. This court has been informed that even as at today, Tuesday the 12th November 2019 you are yet to comply with the lawful order of the Federal High Court by refusing to release the defendants/applicants namely: Omoyele Stephen Sowore and Olawale Adebayo Bakare (Mandate) in your custody. You are hereby directed to comply with the court order forthwith or you will be guilty of contempt of court.”