Detained activist sues DSS, agency cites security breach

The President of Middle Belt Youth Forum, Godwin Meliga, on Monday, dragged the Department of State Services and its Director-General, Yusuf Bichi, to a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja to demand enforcement of his fundamental human rights.

Melinga was arrested following a press conference he addressed on December 19 where he condemned the agency for the planned arrest of the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele.

However, in a motion for the enforcement of his fundamental rights with suit No: FCT/HC/CV/1034/2023, filed by his counsel, Chibuzo Ezike, the applicant asked the court for his unconditional release by the DSS.

The applicant prayed the court to release him from detention and also make an order directing the DSS and its Director-General to pay him N500m in damages and a public apology in two national dailies for illegal arrest and detention.

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He also prayed the court to declare his arrest and detention from January 8, 2023, till the time of filling the suit as a breach of his fundamental rights, unconstitutional and of no effect.

Meanwhile, the DSS has confirmed the arrest of the human rights activist.

The spokesman for the service, Peter Afunanya, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, said Meliga was arrested over what he called ‘issues of a security breach.’

Afunanya also denied that Meliga was abducted as being claimed in some quarters, adding that he was legally arrested.

He said, “We do not abduct people. He was validly arrested using all the necessary instruments of law. He was arrested over issues of a security breach.”

However, the Coalition of United Political Parties had summoned an emergency meeting in Abuja to deliberate on how to secure Meliga’s release.

The CUPP, in a statement by the Secretary of its Steering Committee, Peter Ameh, expressed worries over the alleged repeated involvement of the DSS DG in activities that threatened the hope for a credible election and alleged plot to force the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmoud Yakubu, out of office.