The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has directed the release of an Abuja-based businesswoman, Mrs. Chineze Ozoadibe, who was wrongfully arrested by a sister security agency and transferred to the DSS on allegations of involvement in illegal oil bunkering.

The DSS chief further approved N10 million compensation for Mrs. Ozoadibe and ordered that five other individuals, also found to have been wrongfully arrested, share an additional N10 million.

A credible security source explained that Mrs. Ozoadibe’s arrest occurred during an operation to dismantle an oil bunkering syndicate but was later found to be without merit.
“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.

The official stressed that the release and compensation were part of a new policy direction under Ajayi’s leadership. “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,” the source noted.

He recalled the case of a Jos-based businessman who was mistakenly shot by DSS operatives in 2016 and awarded N10 million damages by a Federal High Court. “It took eight years and the arrival of Tosin Ajayi as the DSS boss for the Service to agree to pay the N10 million. 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 explained.

According to the insider, Ajayi’s approach reflects his professional understanding of the fallibility of security agencies. “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,” the source said.

The official further disclosed that the DSS leadership has introduced tighter internal measures to reduce wrongful arrests.
“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. Now, the standard procedure is that all Investigation Officers conduct proper investigations before carrying out any arrests,” he said.