A Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna presided over by Justice Zainab. L. Abubakar has ruled that the Nigerian Army and State Security Service (SSS) should pay a Kaduna based businessman, Alhaji Ibrahim Mohammed Gashash N10 million as damage for violating his fundamental rights.
Briefing newsmen shortly after the ruling on Wednesday, the Counsel to the applicant, Barrister Umar Magaji Na Rimi said, “ The court had in its last sitting fixed Wednesday for ruling over the matter and by the ruling of the court, it has established the violation of the applicants rights to personal liberty as well as, his privacy.”
The counsel added the court ordered that the respondents be held responsible for violating the fundamental rights of the applicant and it went further to awards N10 million as damages against the respondents jointly.
He expressed satisfaction with the ruling of the court and commended the court for seeing that justice prevails.
Also speaking to newsmen at the court premises, Gashasha described the ruling as a victory for the people adding, “Many people are being victimized for no just cause, but in most cases, people become afraid even to raise their voices by coming to court.”
Recall that Alh. Gashash popularly known as Sardaunan Matasa was whisked away from his Kakuri residence early January by some men in military uniform.
Daily Trust had reported that the men numbering about 20 arrived the house around 3:00 am and ordered the man who was sleeping to come out of the house.
He was, however, released after Justice Zainab Abubakar, granted an application filed by his Counsel, Barrister Umar Magaji, directing the Nigerian Army and the DSS to release him with immediate effect.
Gashash approached the Court over what he described as an infringement on his fundamental human rights by Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division and the Director-General of the State Security Services for illegal and unlawful arrest.
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