A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to produce the 12 detained associates of Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho, before it on July 29.

Justice Obiora Egwuatu gave the order after Counsel to the applicants, Pelumi Olajengbesi, moved the ex-parte motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/647/2021 dated July 7 and filed July 8.

Egwuatu also ordered the Nigeria’s secret police to come and show course why the applicants should not be granted bail.

The judge also granted the plea of the applicant, through the affidavit of urgency filed, on why the matter should be heard expeditiously irrespective of the imminent court vacation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that at least a dozen of Igboho’s associates were arrested and detained by the DSS on July 1 after a raid on Igboho’s residence in the Soka area of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The DSS also said that it “gunned down” two of the activist’s associates during a “gun duel” which Igboho narrowly escaped.

He was later declared wanted for allegedly stockpiling arms, an allegation he denied.

Igboho had openly boasted he could help to procure guns and that anybody caught with one should tell the authorities he made the provision, an action which the Federal Government is most likely going to use in his prosecution.

In a viral video, the 48-year-old separatist encouraged communities to buy arms and ammunition for their youths.

“Those who don’t have guns, contribute money and buy guns for them. You can record me. If they don’t know where to buy gun, I will help them to buy it.

“No government can say people should not carry weapons now. If they (youths) are caught, they should tell them that I, Igboho, provided the guns. The guns are to protect ourselves, we will fortify them with charms”, he added.

Under the law, threatening the state with war, which Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), and Igboho repeatedly did, are treason.

Section 37(1) (a) of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, states to wit: “Any person who levies war against the state, in order to intimidate the president or the governor of a state is guilty of treason and is liable to the punishment of death.”