The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the release of Abuja-based businesswoman Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, who was wrongfully arrested on suspicion of involvement in illegal bunkering.
In a move to address the wrongful detention, the DSS boss also awarded Mrs. Ozoadibe N10 million in compensation, Persecondnews reports.
Additionally, he ordered that five other wrongfully arrested individuals share an extra N10 million as compensation.
The businesswoman’s initial arrest reportedly occurred during a DSS operation aimed at busting an illegal oil bunkering syndicate, according to a credible security source.
“Some suspects, including the lady, were transferred to the DSS by a sister security agency. In the course of investigation, DSS officers discovered that the businesswoman’s arrest was coincidental.
“Convinced, the DG directed that she be released and duly compensated,” the source said.
He added: “You will realise that the release of wrongfully arrested and detained persons, and the award of compensation to them, have become the new culture of the DSS since Mr. Ajayi took over as DG.
“This is not an isolated case of setting free wrongfully detained persons. The DSS DG has done that several times. It’s only a few that made it to the media. Remember the Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot by the DSS in 2016.
“It took eight years and the arrival of Tosin Ajayi as the DSS boss for the Service to agree to pay the N10 million a Federal High Court awarded the victim as damages. Not only did the new DSS boss pay the N10 million, he doubled it to N20 million, and added free medicare for life for the victim,” the source also recalled.
“As a thoroughbred professional, Mr. Ajayi has seen and experienced first-hand, that even the best security agencies sometimes make mistakes.
“That is why, on assuming office, he addressed his personnel to be very painstaking in their operations. He also admitted that, as humans, they are fallible. However, that when they make such mistakes, they should be man enough to admit it, the reason he is releasing wrongfully detained persons and awarding them compensation.”
In a bid to cut down on these mistakes, the DG has also directed the legal department to ensure that due process is painstakingly followed in all cases being handled by the Service.
“Now, the standard procedure is that all investigation officers conduct proper investigations before carrying out any arrests.”
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