A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja and presided over by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed the fundamental human rights suit filed by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, against the Federal Government.
Delivering judgment, Justice Omotosho, declared that Kanu failed to provide credible evidence to sustain his claims that his interactions with his lawyers were interfered with, that he was denied unhindered access to his lawyers, and that DSS officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers, which constituted a breach of his right to a fair hearing.
Justice Omotosho further pronounced that the claims that Kanu was denied unhindered access to his lawyers by the operatives of the DSS, and that the officials eavesdropped on his conversations with his lawyers in the preparation for his defence, could not be established.
The IPOB Leader, through his Lawyer Aloy Ejimakor sued the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Department of State Service for ₦1bn in damages for alleged rights violations.
He claimed that the DSS and its director general violated his right to a fair hearing by allegedly preventing his lawyers from having unhindered interactions with him while he was being detained in preparation for his defence in his criminal.
Kanu also sought a declaration that the respondents’ act of preventing his counsel from taking notes on the details of counsel’s professional discussions/consultations with him at DSS detention was unlawful.
But in a counter affidavit, the DSS through its Lawyer, Yamuje Benye denied allegations levelled against it, declaring that Kanu was in safe and secured custody of the DSS, and was not detained in solitary confinement.
According to Benye, the IPOB Leader was allowed access to his family members and team of lawyers on his visiting days, without any hindrance whatsoever.
