Tobias Sylvester
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay N1million as damages to a human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, over his unlawfully arrested and detention in 2019.
Court Declares Sowore’s Arrest Illegal
Justice Obiora Egwuatu, who delivered the judgment on Monday, March 21, declared that Sowore’s arrest and the violent clampdown on the #RevolutionNow protests in 2019 is illegal and unconstitutional.
The judge ordered DSS to pay damages in the sum of N1 million to Sowore as compensation for the violation of his fundamental human rights.
KanyiDaily recalls that Omoyele Sowore had challenged his unlawful abduction at a Lagos hotel for asking Nigerians to take to the streets and protest against bad governance, insecurity and corruption.
The activist had on November 15, 2019, filed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1407/2019 challenging the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Yusuf Bichi, and Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), for his illegal arrest and detention.
The activist, through his lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, asked the court to declare his unlawful detention by the DSS as “illegal and a gross violation of his fundamental right to liberty”.
He also asked the court for an order compelling the DSS to pay to him the sum of N500 million as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to life, the dignity of his person, fair hearing, health, freedom of movement and freedom of association.
Three months ago, the Federal High Court in Abuja had also ordered the DSS to pay Omoyele Sowore the sum of N2 million for breach of his fundamental rights.
