Justice Elijah Taiwo of Oyo State High Court sitting in Oyo has ordered the immediate release of an Oyo-based businessman, Mr. Azeez Akintunde and granted N100million as compensation for him over alleged unlawful arrest.
Fifty-two-year-old Akintunde was whisked away from his residence at Alhaja Sara Street, Cele area of Oyo town by military personnel at about 6am on November 18, 2021. He had since then been detained by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).
Brother to the arrested businessman, Sheik Taofeek Akeugbagold had last year told newsmen that about 40 soldiers stormed their family house in Oyo with the vehicles of Oyo State Security Outfit, popularly called ‘Operation Burst’ and took Akintunde away to an unknown destination.
Akeugbagold also mentioned that the family had got wind that Akintunde had been held incommunicado at the DIA, Abuja. He appealed to the military to release his brother, saying, he has a 95-year-old mother who has been in a coma since the day he was arrested.
Counsels to the claimant, Dr. Adebayo Shittu (SAN) and Dr. Adeola Omotunde (SAN) in the suit against Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) Maj. Gen. Samuel Adebayo, Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) and the Attorney-General of the Federation; said arrest of their client was unlawful.
The Counsel also prayed the court to order Akintunde’s release and declare his arrest, continuous detention, and harassment by the first and second respondents as illegal and violation of his fundamental human rights, as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Justice Taiwo who described the businessman’s arrest as ‘illegal and unconstitutional’, ordered his immediate release by the DIA.
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