A Federal High Court which sat in Bauchi Friday has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay N10 million as damages to Musa Ibrahim Umar for invading his house and shooting him on his lap in 2016.
The victim a resident of Iyamadu Street, Bukuru in Jos South local government area of plateau state alleged that the DSS operatives stormed the area on 2nd March 2016 while looking for a suspected Boko Haram member Umar Khalid Muhammed.
The plaintiff added that they broke into his residence in the middle of the night and asked whether he was the suspect and when he denied they shot him on his lap and left him in the pool of his own blood which made him unable to work.
In an application for the enforcement of his fundamental rights , the applicant had sought for a declaration that the action by the security body is illegal and unconstitutional as it violated his right to life and dignity of his human person as guaranteed by Section 33 and 34 of the 1999 constitution as amended.
The presiding judge, Justice Muhammad Shitu Abubakar in granting the prayers of the applicant therefore awarded the sum of N10 million as damages against the respondents.
The court however refused some of the applicant’s prayers which include the publication of a public apology in two national dailies.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Akibu Idris Esq commended the court saaying that the judgment is a victory as it re-enforces the confidence of Nigerians on the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.
Lead counsel to the respondents, Barrister B. A Joshua was however represented by Barrister Imam during the sitting.
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