By Justice Anwuli Chikere of a Federal High Court in Abuja has instructed the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay compensation to popular Human Rights Activist, Omoyele Sowore, the sum of two million naira (N2,000,000) over an illegal seizure of his mobile phones.
Omoyele filed a case against the DSS for breaching his fundamental right by seizing his phones in August 2019 denying him access to his phones.
Also, justice Anwuli said the agency should pay Omoyele a sum of two million naira and also apologise to him in the two national dailies.
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The agency was accused of collecting Omoyele’s phone and a sum of ten thousand naira when he was arrested in his hotel room on August 3rd, 2019 after he mobilized Nigerians to participate in a peaceful demonstration requesting a better Nigeria from the ruling government.
Reacting to the court verdict, Sowore said via his verified Twitter “Federal High Court rules that seizure of my mobile phones by lawless DSS is illegal, and violation of my rights. That forfeiture of my phones since 2019 using the subterfuge of my alleged links with “terrorists” is illegal
DSS ordered to pay me N2m! More to come”
Omoyele was arrested by DSS on August 3rd, 2019 and was released on bail on December 5th, 2019 and was re-arrested on December 6th and detained till December 24th, 2019 following an order of release by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami.
