The convener of #RevolutionNow protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, has sued the Department of State Services (DSS) over his arrest on August 3, 2019 and continued detention thereafter even after he had fulfilled bail conditions given by the Federal High Court.
In a suit marked FHC/ABJ /C51409/2019 dated November 20, Sowore asked the court to order the DSS to pay him N500m as general and aggravated damages for illegal detention and violation of fundamental rights.
The prayers read: “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.”
The attorney general of the federation and minister of justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami is joined in the suit.
It would be recalled that Sowore was arrested “for threatening public safety, peaceful co-existence and social harmony in the country.”
It would also be recalled that Justice Taiwo Taiwo had, on September 24, ordered the DSS to release Sowore from its custody.
The judge however, asked him to deposit his international passport with it before he is released.
On Wednesday, September 25, Sowore met the bail conditions given by the court.
On November 6, a judge of the Federal High Court in Abuja signed a release order for Sowore after he met the bail conditions set by the judge, but the DSSS refused to release him and his co-accused, Olawale Bakare.
