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From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Dr Oluwatosin Ajayi, yesterday failed to appear before a Federal High Court in Abuja to testify in the trial of Omoyele Sowore, convener of the #RevolutionNow movement, despite a court order directing his attendance.
Ajayi had claimed he was not served with the subpoena, but court records showed that it was served on the DSS Director of Legal Services.
Appearing for the Federal Government, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), told the court that Ajayi was unaware of the service, as claimed by Olumide Fusika, counsel to Sowore.
The presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Umar, had earlier queried the court registrar on whether the subpoena had been served on the witness. The registrar confirmed that the process was served on the DSS Director of Legal Services.
Following an application seeking Ajayi’s appearance to give evidence, Justice Umar had ordered the DSS Director-General to appear before the court.
However, when proceedings resumed yesterday, the Attorney-General urged the court to set aside the order compelling Ajayi’s attendance and asked that the defendant be allowed to proceed with his case.
Fusika opposed the application, arguing that the Attorney-General could not take over the matter without giving proper notice to the defence.
“I am not withdrawing the application. I am not moved by the submission of the AGF,” Fusika said.
“I concede that the AGF can appear in any matter at any time, but I submit that it has to be properly done. He cannot appear in court with this type of application without notifying us.”
