Sowore Sues DSS for ‘Unlawful’ Detention, Demands N500M

Malik Yahya/

Convener of #RevolutionNow Movement, Omoyele Sowore, has dragged the Department of State Services (DSS) to a Federal High Court in Abuja over his continued his detention.

Sowore also asked the court to award N500 million in his favour as cost against the DSS for the violation of his rights.

In the suit dated November 20 and marked FHC/ABJ /CS/1409/2019, the activist is seeking the following reliefs:

“A declaration that the detention of the applicant from November 7, 2019 till date in violation of the order for his release made on November 6, 2019 is illegal as it violates his fundamental right to liberty guaranteed by Section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 6 of African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act (CAP A10) laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.

”An order of this court compelling the respondents to pay to the applicant the sum of N500,000, 000, 00 ( five hundred million naira) as general and aggravated damages for the illegal violation of the applicant’s fundamental right to life, dignity of his person, fair hearing, health, freedom of movement and freedom of association.

“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from further violating the applicant’s fundamental rights in any manner whatsoever and however without lawful justification.”

Joined in the suit is the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.

The DSS has refused to release Sowore, who has been in detention since August, despite a court order.

The secret agency is insisting it would only release him to his sureties, but his lawyers led by Mr Femi Falana, are insisting that the extra condition imposed by the DSS violates the order of the court.

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