JUST IN: Court awards N20bn against Nigerian govt for invading Igboho’s residence

An Oyo State High Court judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola of Oyo State High Court on Friday lambasted the Department of State Security (DSS) over the invasion of the Ibadan home of Sunday Adeyemo, otherwise called Sunday Igboho.

The judge also awarded the sum of N20 billion against the DSS for it’s actions which he described as “arbitrary aggression and prejudices”.

The declared the raid conducted by the DSS on the residence of the Yoruba Nation agitator as illegal, ordering the state service to pay Igboho N20 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages.

The court also granted N2 million to Igboho’s counsel, Yomi Aliyu, as cost for the thorough process in court.

It would be recalled that Aliyu had earlier asked the court to grant him N10 million as the cost for the thorough process of the case.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that the home of the Yoruba Nation agitator at Soka, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was invaded by DSS operatives at about 1:30 am on July 1, 2021, leading to the arrest of 12 of his aides, while he managed to escape.

READ ALSO: Drama in court, as DSS lawyer claims armed robbers stole file on Sunday Igboho’s aide’s

Following the raid, Igboho sued the DSS, Federal Government and the Attorney General of the federation, and prayed the court to order the respondents to jointly pay him the sum of N500 million as special damages for the destruction of his house and cars, and another N500 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages for breaching his fundamental rights.

Also, he prayed the court to order the Federal Government and the other respondents to tender a public apology to him in two national dailies.

In the application filed on July 22 at the Ibadan Division of the State High Court, through his lawyer, Igboho had also prayed the court to direct the respondents to return all the items seized from the house.

Among the items listed were N2 million cash, one thousand Euros, travel documents including international passports belonging to him and his family members, gold jewellery and wristwatches, two mobile phones, and other items that were not mentioned.

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