The Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, Oluwatosin Ajayi, has directed operatives of the agency not to arrest anyone over civil matters.
Ajayi disclosed this in a media interview on Thursday, saying the directive was part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening respect for the rule of law and human rights.
He said the DSS had drawn a clearer line between civil and criminal matters, noting that the use of force was inappropriate in civil disputes.
Ajayi said the agency would instead seek legal redress through the courts where necessary.
He cited cases involving political economist Pat Utomi and the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, as examples of matters the DSS pursued through judicial processes rather than arrests.
“I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case,” Ajayi said.
The DSS chief added that the agency also preferred to seek corrections or approach the courts in disputes involving journalists rather than make arrests.
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