4 BENUE COUNCIL CHAIRMEN FILE N200M SUIT AGAINST DSS
The four suspended local government chairmen in Benue State recently detained by the Department of State Services DSS have filed a fundamental rights suit against the Benue State Command of the DSS.
Veronica Gajir of Ushongo Local government, James Oche of Ado, Alfred Atera of Katsina-ala and Hon. Mike Ubah of Guma who were detained by the DSS last week have filed the suit before a Federal High Court in Makurdi.
The suspended Chairmen noted that, they received an invitation to visit the Makurdi Command of the DSS for an interview with the State Director so as law abiding citizens who are not into any form of criminality of any kind, they duly honoured the invitation.
They said that upon their arrival the were abruptly detained by the DSS and denied complete and total access to their Lawyers and Family Members without being charged to Court or released on bail.
They further aver that their Lawyers and family members are not aware nor have been informed of the reason for their incarceration.
In the suit which marked FHC/Mkd/cs/43 /2023 and filed by counsel to the four chairmen, Joseph Oche, the Chairmen are seeking an order of court, compelling the DSS to pay them the sum of Two Hundred Million Naira (N200,000,000.00) as compensation and damages for
the illegal arrest and detention.
The suspended Chairmen are seeking a declaration that their detention by officers and men of the DSS is illegal, unconstitutional. null and void as it violates their fundamental human rights as enshrined under Sections 34, 35, 36 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They are also seeking an order compelling the DSS to tender an unreserved public apology to them before members of the press .
The plaintiffs are further seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the DSS, their agents, officers, servants, privies or whosoever called from further arresting,detaining, intimidating and harassing the Applicants on any fact connected with or related to the facts in this application, amongst other reliefs.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Abdu Dogo has fixed the matter for October 3rd, 2023.
