The Department of State Services, DSS, has said paying the N20bn damages awarded against it by an Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, to the leader of Yoruba nation, Sunday Adeyemo (Sunday Igboho), will negatively affect the Nigerian economy.

The secret police added that the Yoruba leader was under extradition procedure to Nigeria.

These were stated in court documents made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Igboho has sued the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) and the Department of State Services (DSS) for failing to pay the N20.5 billion awarded to him as cost of damages in the suit against the July 1 invasion of his residence, embattled Yoruba nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo (aka Sunday Igboho).

The application is one of the two filed by his lead counsel, Chief Yomi Alliyu (SAN), at an Oyo State High Court, which ordered the secret police to pay him N20.5 billion in aggravated damages and another N500 million in cost for invading his Soka, Ibadan home on July 1.

Recall, two persons were killed during the invasion and Adeyemo’s valuable belongings were allegedly taken away by the DSS operatives.

The court had held that the invasion was illegal, adding that Igboho did not violate the constitution by campaigning for Yoruba nation. In the judgment, given by Justice Ladiran Akintola on September 17, the court also agreed that Igboho was being hounded for his agitation for Yoruba nation.

Instead of paying the huge sum, however, the DSS filed an application for stay of execution and an appeal against the judgment.

In an affidavit sworn to by the DSS titled, ‘Applicants affidavit in support of its motion on notice for a stay of execution of the judgment of this suit No/M/435/2021 and an injunction pending the determination of the appeal,’ an operative of the DSS, Johnson Oluwole, stated that Igboho was undergoing extradition procedure to Nigeria.

He further stated, “That it is a fact that the applicant, Chief Sunday Igboho, has been declared a fugitive by the Nigeria Police Force sometimes in June 2021.

“That it is a fact that the applicant was arrested on the 19th of July 2021 and is currently in the custody of the Beninese security agents undergoing extradition procedure back to Nigeria.

“That it is fact that the applicant is under investigation by the security agents for a treasonable act that is inimical to the corporate existence of the country.

“That it is fact that one of the reliefs granted by this honourable court is that the respondents pay the plaintiff N20bn as exemplary damages.

“That it is a fact that withdrawing a whopping sum of N20bn from the country’s economy would adversely affect the smooth running of the country.”