Publisher of Sahara Reporters and Convener of the RevolutionNow protest, Omoyele Sowore has sued the Department of State Services, DSS, for his continues detention despite two court orders directing the DSS to release him.
According to Sahara Reporters, In a suit marked FHC/ABJ /C51409/2019 dated November 20, 2019, Sowore asked the court to order the DSS to pay him N500m as general and aggravated damages for his detention and illegal violation of fundamental RIGHTS.
“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.”
It will be recalled that Sowore was arrested by the DSS since August 2019 for calling for a protest tagged #RevolutionNow. He has been in custody of the DSS despite court orders directing for his release.