ILLEGAL DETENTION: Court Orders SSS To Release Two Detainees

Forum 8 years ago

ILLEGAL DETENTION: Court Orders SSS To Release Two Detainees

Justice Jude Okeke of the FCT High Court has ordered the immediate release of two men, Alhaji Bukar Lau and Alhaji Yusuf Mohammed, who have been in the custody of the State Security Service (SSS) for about a year.


Justice Okeke also declared their detention without trial illegal illegal and in violation of Section 35 of the constitution. The two have been in custody for two and eight months respectively.


The 1st and 2nd respondents are the Nigerian Army and the SSS.


But several weeks after the order was made, the SSS, who were not represented in court by a lawyer throughout the duration of the case instituted by the two men, despite being joined as a party, have refused to obey the order.of the court.


Counsel to the two detainees, Mr. Jubril Bolori, has, however, initiated contempt proceedings against the service.

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In the contempt charge filed against the SSS and the Nigerian Army, the two bodies were asked to show cause why the chief of army staff and the director-general of the should not be committed to prison for not obeying a lawful court order.


Series of letters were also written to the SSS and the army on the need to obey court orders but there was no response to the letter.