No More Arrests in Civil Disputes: DSS DG Oluwatosin Ajayi Orders Major Policy Shift, Signals Human Rights Reform

To demonstrate the operational reality of these reforms, the DSS Director-General pointed to several high-profile incidents that would have traditionally resulted in arbitrary detentions. Chief among these was the case involving prominent political economist and public intellectual, Professor Pat Utomi, who was allegedly investigated over an attempt to establish an alternate or "shadow" cabinet.

Instead of deploying tactical units for a controversial arrest, the DSS chose to seek judicial interpretation regarding the constitutionality of the moves. The federal court eventually ruled that the political maneuverings in question were unconstitutional and threatened national security, validating the agency's non-custodial, rule-of-law-first approach.

Another crucial test of the new doctrine emerged during a dispute with the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP). The civil society organization had approached the judiciary following claims that DSS operatives had unlawfully invaded its Abuja office. Rather than intimidating the activists or executing retaliatory arrests, the DSS legal department actively participated in the court proceedings.

Although the court eventually awarded a substantial judgment of over N100 million in favor of SERAP, Ajayi viewed the legal outcome as a victory for institutional compliance and constitutional democracy, emphasizing that the era of ignoring judicial pronouncements is over.