APPEAL COURT NULLIFIES N20BN DAMAGES AGAINST DSS ON SUNDAY IGBOHO

The ruling that ruled the attack on the home of Yoruba nation activist Sunday Adeyemo, also known as Sunday Igboho, was illegal was overturned on Tuesday by the Ibadan Division of the Court of Appeal.

The Department of State Security (DSS) was also given N20 billion in exemplary and aggravating damages for the attack, but the court revoked the damages because they were exorbitant.

According to Justice Muslim Hassan's ruling, the Oyo State High Court lacked jurisdiction over the case. adding that the judge erred in basing the damages award on his own standards.

In September 2021, the Oyo State High Court ruled that the Department of State Service's raid on Sunday Igboho's Ibadan home was unlawful.

DSS must pay N20 billion to Igboho as exemplary and aggravating damages, according to Justice Ladiran Akintola's judgment.

As "arbitrary aggressiveness and prejudices" towards Igboho, Akintola called the DSS's actions.

Igboho's residence was raided by DSS agents in July 2021, which resulted in the arrest of 12 of his assistants but allowed the Yoruba nation agitator to escape capture.

Igboho sued the Federal Government and sought damages after the raid.

Igboho requested that the court issue an order directing the Federal Government and the other respondents to tender a public apology in two national dailies as well as an order directing the respondents to jointly pay him the sum of #500 million as special damages for the damage done to his house and his car and another #500 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages for beaching his fundamental rights with the malicious invasion of his house.

Igboho submitted the application to vindicate his fundamental human rights in accordance with Sections 33–46 of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the pertinent African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights sections through his attorney, Yomi Alliyu.

The State Security Service, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Director SSS, Oyo State were named as respondents in the lawsuit.

Igboho further requested that the court issue an order compelling the defendants to hand over all of the property taken from the home.