Detained former Governor of Benue State, Dr. Gabriel Suswam, on Tuesday filed a N10bn fundamental human rights enforcement suit against the Department of State Services, its Director-General, Mr. Lawal Daura, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami at the Federal High Court Abuja.
His lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), who filed the suit on behalf of the former governor, avers that his client’s rights, guaranteed by sections 35(1), 34(1), 35(4), 41(1) of the Nigerian Constitution, have been violated by the respondents.
Suswam is seeking a declaration that his detention by the DSS since February 25, 2017, without trial, as a violation of his fundamental rights, to personal liberty, freedom of movement, and dignity of human person.
He also asking the court to order his unconditional release from detention pending the commencement and determination of his trial if any charge would ever be filed against him.
Also sought is an order directing the three respondents (the DSS, the DG of DSS and the AGF) to tender public apology to him “in seven national dailies of very wide circulation “for the illegal arrest and detention”.
Mr. Suswam is likewise pursuing for the sum of N10bn from the respondnets as exemplary damages for “unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal detention.”
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