The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, has directed operatives of the agency to refrain from arresting individuals over civil disputes.
Ajayi disclosed this in a media interview on Thursday, saying the directive was part of reforms aimed at strengthening adherence to the rule of law and improving the agency’s human rights record.
The DSS director-general said that since assuming office, he had introduced reforms across five key areas: law enforcement, inter-agency collaboration, accountability, respect for human rights, and infrastructural and administrative improvements designed to enhance operational efficiency.
According to him, the reforms have also helped the agency establish a clearer distinction between civil and criminal matters.
Ajayi said his professional experience showed that the DSS had previously blurred the line between the two, stressing that the use of force was inappropriate in civil disputes.
“You cannot apply the use of force in civil matters. Even some criminal matters don’t require force,” he said.
He cited the case involving political economist, Prof. Pat Utomi, over allegations concerning an attempt to establish a “shadow government,” saying the DSS chose to seek judicial interpretation rather than arrest him.
“Rather than arrest him, we sought judicial interpretation. And the court ruled that his adventure was unconstitutional, illegal, and a threat to national security,” he said.
Ajayi also referred to a case involving the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), which approached the court over allegations that two DSS operatives invaded its premises.
He said the matter was handled through the courts without any arrest, adding that the court eventually awarded more than N100 million in favour of SERAP.
Asked whether the DSS now resorts to the courts when dealing with civil matters, Ajayi said, “Yes. I have told my people that there should be no arrest in any civil case.”
He added that the agency had also adopted a similar approach in cases involving journalists, noting that both journalists and security officials serve complementary roles in informing the public and government.
“I call you guys our professional colleagues. The only difference is that, while you inform the public, we inform the Government. And because we inform the Government, our information is classified until we declassify it,” he said.
