Consequently, the security agency, through its lawyer, Mr. I. Awo, prayed the court to adjourn further proceedings on the matter till a later date.
Awo told the court that the ‘One-Chance’ thieves snatched the case-file from his colleague who unknowingly boarded their vehicle.
He told Justice Obiora Egwuatu that aside from the case file, other items belonging to his colleague were also stolen.
He also prayed the court not to grant the Applicants bail as the tendency for them to flee the country is high, just like that of their leader Sunday Igboho.
He said of Igboho: “Rather than to turn himself in, he decided to flee this country. There is no guarantee that these four Applicants will not follow same if released on bail.
“There are credible information on how friends, family and associates of these same four applicants are making contacts with potential witnesses identified by the DSS.
“Some have been pressurized not to turn up in an event that they will be tried.
“These four applicants will jeopardise ongoing investigation if released.
“Finally, it is our submission that once investigation is concluded, the respondents will not hesitate to charge them to court.
“At that point, we may concede to an accelerated trial. We do not want to take for granted the safety of our potential witnesses.
“We therefore ask this court to deny these four Applicants bail, in order not frustrate this process,” counsel to the DSS added.
Arguing that denying them bail would be in the interest of national security, the DSS, sought permission of the court to further detain them for another 14 days to enable it to conclude its investigations, a request Justice Egwuatu declined.
