N7bn Bribe: Borno Pastor Threatens Legal Action Against DSS

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N7bn Bribe: Borno Pastor Threatens Legal Action Against DSS

Borno State-born Pastor Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa has threatened to institute a legal action against the Department of State Services (DSS) for the violation of his fundamental human rights over the N7 billion allegation.


Dikwa revealed that his trauma at the DSS started when sometime at the beginning of the year he made public an allegation that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) had received the sum of N7 billion from the present government to garner support among the Christian community for the re-election of President Goodluck Jonathan.


The Borno-born pastor who has petitioned the DSS’ director-general, Mr. Ita Ekpenyong, through his lawyers from Right and Democracy Volunteers, reminded the director-general how his officers stripped him naked and asked him to make statement under dures.

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“On March16, 2015, Pastor Dikwa returned to the DSS headquarters with his lawyers in Abuja under the invitation through one Mr. Paul. The lawyer was denied presence during the chat. The interrogation officers, Felix and Tony, stripped the pastor naked and ordered him to make a statement under duress when they ordered him to copy verbatim a recanting statement scripted by the DSS,” the petition read.


The petition, which was obtained by LEADERSHIP, reminded the DSS that the constitution of Nigeria guarantees Pastor Dikwa some inalienable rights, including the right to the freedom of expression, respect for the dignity of his person, and right to liberty – all of which were conveniently violated by the DSS.


To this end, the lawyers demanded an apology and compensation as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the constitution, adding that “in this circumstances, we believe that Pastor Dikwa is entitled to N300 million compensation and a guarantee that he would no more be intimidated or harassed by operatives of the DSS without regard to the laws of this country.


“Having regard to the exigency of the situation, we have instructed our legal team to proceed to file a court action to protect the fundamental rights of Pastor Dikwa if after seven days hereof the DSS in its wisdom fails to remediate the matter in compliance with the petition. Pastor Dikwa may be a lone victim of circumstances, but he shall not be alone in fighting this violation of his rights,” said the petitioner.