Suswam files N10bn suit against DSS, AGF over detention

The former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, on Tuesday initiated a N10 billion legal action at the Federal High Court in Abuja, against the Department of State Services (DSS), its Director-General, Lawal Daura and the Attorney General of the Federation for ille­gally detaining him for over 35 days without charging him to court.

In a fundamental right enforcement suit filed on Tuesday on his behalf by Jo­seph Daudu (SAN), marked FHC/ABJ/CS/279/2017, Suswam is asking the court to order for payment of exemplary damages in the sum of N10 billion for his unlawful arrest and detention since February 25, 2017, without trial.

By the suit, the ap­plicant wants, “A dec­laration that the arrest and detention of the applicant (Suswam) on Saturday 25th Feb­ruary, 2017, till date at Abuja by the opera­tives of the DSS under the instruction of their DG without trial or due process being fol­lowed, violates the applicant’s fundamen­tal right to personal liberty guaranteed by Section 35(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) and Article 5 and 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, and is therefore unconstitutional, un­lawful, illegal, null and void. -The Authority