Director General awards N20 million compensation to six individuals following wrongful arrests and detention
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Director General of the Department of State Services, Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has ordered the immediate release of six wrongfully detained individuals, including Abuja businesswoman Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, while awarding N20 million in total compensation.
Abuja Businesswoman Released After Wrongful Detention
Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, an Abuja-based businesswoman, walked free after spending several months in DSS custody on suspicion of illegal oil bunkering. A sister security agency initially picked her up before transferring the case to the DSS.
After what appears to have been a thorough investigation, DSS operatives concluded her arrest was coincidental. She had no connection to the alleged crime.
“In the course of investigation, DSS officers discovered that the businesswoman’s arrest was coincidental,” a credible security source disclosed. Convinced of her innocence, Director General Ajayi directed her release and approved N10 million in compensation.
Five other individuals were also freed after being similarly found to have been wrongfully detained. The DG approved a shared N10 million for this group, bringing the total payout to N20 million.
New Culture of Accountability Under Current Leadership
Sources within the Service say releasing wrongfully arrested persons and awarding compensation has become something of a pattern since Mr. Ajayi took over as Director General.
“This is not an isolated case of setting free wrongfully detained persons. The DSS DG has done that several times,” the source explained. “It’s only a few that made it to the media.”
The source recalled a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot by the DSS back in 2016. It took eight years, and the arrival of Ajayi as 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 medical care for life for the victim,” the source said.
Professional Approach Emphasizes Due Process
Mr. Ajayi, described by insiders as a thoroughbred professional, has apparently seen firsthand that even the best security agencies sometimes get it wrong. That’s why, upon assuming office, he addressed his personnel to be very careful in their operations.
He also admitted that, as humans, they’re fallible. But he stressed that when they make mistakes, they should be man enough to admit it. This philosophy seems to explain why he’s been releasing wrongfully detained persons and awarding them compensation.
“In the bid to cut down on these mistakes, the DG has directed the legal department to ensure that due process is painstakingly followed in all cases being handled by the Service,” the source revealed.
Investigation Officers are now required to conduct proper investigations before carrying out any arrests. It’s a shift in operational protocol that could, if consistently enforced, prevent future wrongful detentions.
Impact on Nigeria’s Security Sector
The compensation awards and policy changes under Ajayi’s leadership mark what may be a turning point in how Nigeria’s security services handle wrongful detention cases. By acknowledging mistakes and providing financial redress, the DSS appears to be setting a precedent for accountability within Nigerian security agencies.
Legal experts have noted that such proactive compensation, without waiting for court orders, suggests institutional maturity. It may also ease the burden on Nigeria’s courts, which often handle unlawful detention cases that drag on for years.
The emphasis on investigation before arrest aligns with international best practices in law enforcement. It also addresses long-standing criticism of Nigerian security agencies regarding arbitrary arrests and prolonged detention without trial.
For Mrs. Ozoadibe and the five other released detainees, the compensation provides some measure of justice. Still, the months spent in wrongful detention represent time and opportunities that can’t be fully recovered, no matter how much money changes hands.
The DSS’s new approach under Ajayi’s leadership suggests a recognition that maintaining public trust requires not just effective security operations, but also accountability when things go wrong. Whether this becomes a lasting precedent across Nigeria’s security architecture remains to be seen.
THISDAY
