BY Samuel Akpan
The federal high court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to release five persons who were arrested at Dunamis International Gospel Centre.
Anwuli Chikere, justice of the court, gave the order following separate ex-parte applications filed on behalf of the applicants by their lawyer, Tope Temokun.
The DSS had arrested Ben Manasseh, Anene Udoka, Henry Nwodo, Samuel Larry and Samuel Gabriel on July 4 at the church premises in Abuja for allegedly wearing #BuhariMustGo branded shirts.
The church security was said to have arrested the youths and handed them over to the DSS but the church denied involvement in their arrest.
The plaintiffs subsequently sued the DSS, President Muhammadu Buhari, Paul Enenche, the church’s pastor-in-charge, and others for unlawful arrest and detention.
They also asked the court to award N10 million each in damages for the violation of their fundamental human rights.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/631/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/636/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/637/2021, FHC/ABJ/CS/638/2021, and FHC/ABJ/CS/639/2021 respectively, Temokun argued that the arrest of his clients is a violation of sections 35, 38, 39 and 42 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and under articles 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights Ratification and Enforcement.
He said his clients are entitled to the fundamental right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, right to freedom of expression and the press, right to freedom from discrimination and right to personal liberty.
The judge, in his ruling, ordered that the DSS should release the applicants with immediate effect.
The court adjourned till August 2 for trial.
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