A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has dismissed a N1 billion suit filed by the detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government and the Department of State Services (DSS).
The presiding judge, Justice James Omotosho, in a judgement delivered on Monday, July 1, 2024, held that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to back the alleged violation of his fundamental rights by the defendants.
Justice Omotosho declared that the claims that Kanu was denied unhindered access to his lawyers by the DSS operatives and that the officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers in the preparation of his defence could not be established.
The IPOB leader, had through his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, sued the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), DSS, and its DG as 1st to 4th respondents, respectively.
In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1633/2023, dated and filed December 4, 2023, the applicant prayed for eight reliefs.
Kanu sought “a declaration that the respondents’ act of forcible seizure and photocopying of confidential legal documents pertaining to facilitating the preparation of his defence which were brought to him at the respondents’ detention facility by his lawyers, amounted to denial of his rights to be defended by legal practitioners of his own choice.”
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He also sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of preventing his counsel from taking notes of details of the counsel’s professional discussions/consultations with him at DSS detention was unlawful.
He further sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of eavesdropping on his confidential consultations/conversations with his lawyers, amounted to denial of his right, among others.
Kanu, therefore, sought an order of injunction restraining and prohibiting the respondents from their act of forcible seizure and photocopying of confidential legal documents brought to him at the detention facility by his lawyers.
The IPOB leader also sought an order mandating the respondents to jointly and severally pay the sum of N1 billion as damages for the mental, emotional, psychological, and other damages he suffered as a result of the breach of his rights, among others.
But in a counter affidavit dated and filed by the DSS on March 12, the security outfit denied allegations levelled against it.
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