FEATURED
Court Orders DSS To Pay N10m To Man Detained Over Buhari’s Daughter Reassigned SIM Card
A Federal High Court in Asaba has awarded N10m in damages against the Department of State Services for illegally detaining a trader, Anthony Okolie, for 10 weeks without charge.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, however, struck out the prayer requesting the President’s daughter, Hanan Buhari, and telecoms company, MTN, to pay N500m.
Dimgba delivered his judgement on Thursday.
Okolie, had sued the President’s daughter as well as the DSS and MTN over his 10-week detention after purchasing a SIM card previously owned by Hanan.
In a suit filed on his behalf by human rights lawyer, Tope Akinyode, the applicant sued all parties for N500m jointly and separately.
The suit, with number FHC/ASB/CS/3/2020, sought an order to “compel the respondents (DSS, Hanan and MTN) jointly or severally to pay the applicant the sum of N500, 000, 000 only as general and aggravated damages for the gross and unlawful violation of the applicant’s right to acquire moveable properties, freedom of movement and self dignity.”
The 33-year-old man said in a supporting affidavit that he was arrested on July 19, 2019 in Asaba, Delta State for using a telephone line that was previously owned by Hanan.
According to him, he remained in custody, bound by handcuffs till September 22, 2019 as the DSS waited for Hanan, who was schooling in the United Kingdom, to come and clear him but she never did.
Okolie also attached the receipt he was issued after purchasing the SIM card as well as the SIM certificate.
During the hearing, Akinyode, who is also the National President of Revolutionary Lawyer’s Forum, asked Justice Dimgba to determine if Okolie’s rights had been breached and if the DSS had the right to detain a private citizen for 10 weeks without charge.
The President’s daughter, through her lawyer, M.E Sheriff, asked the court not to grant Okolie’s reliefs, insisting that she had never met the applicant before and he should instead channel his anger towards the DSS that detained him.
The DSS in a counter-affidavit said the Presidency ordered the investigation of Okolie, adding that the sensitivity of the case was what led to Okolie’s prolonged detention.
The DSS lawyer E.E Daubry, who is the Principal Staff Officer, Legal Services, DSS, said the agency decided to detain Okolie without a court order because of the sensitivity of the case.
The agency accused Okolie of using Hanan’s SIM card to solicit money from unsuspecting members of the public, an allegation the applicant denied.
PUNCH
THE 3 MUSKETEERS OF ANIOMA POLITICS: WHERE OKOWA, NWOKO, AND OCHEI STAND IN 2027, BY DR NORBERT CHIAZOR
El-Rufai Family Gives Defence Minister Musa 7 Days to Prove Southern Kaduna Killings Claim or Apologize
ADC Accuses Tinubu Gov. of Turning N33.75bn Cash Transfer Scheme Into ‘Organised Racket’
Pete Edochie: Why Awolowo is My Favorite Nigerian Politician
Ignorance Is No Excuse As Mining Marshals Hunt Illegal Operators Nationwide
UN Declares AI an Existential Threat, Demands New Global Rules
Ahon Eulogizes Aniagwu as a Versatile Professional on Birthday
2027: Pro-Hilary Support Groups Mobilize Across 9 Delta North LGAs for Okowa’s Senate Bid
2027 Election: Omo-Agege Seeks Divine Protection Over Alleged Life Threats
Why Hundeyin Linked Uber Nigeria Exit to Alleged CIA Contract Expiration
2027: SDP’s Adebayo Promises N200 Petrol, Cooking Gas, Jet A1 Within One Year
How 43-Year-Old Nigerian-British Influencer Dies After Cosmetic Penis Enlargement
NAPTIP, Next2None Sign MOU on Africa’s First Intl Fashion Show to Fight Global Human Trafficking
Ex-Delta First Lady Roli Uduaghan Joins Oborevwori, Okowa to Bid Otumara Emotional Farewell in Warri
