Anthony Okolie Sues Hanan Buhari, DSS, Over SIM Card, Deman
A dealer, Anthony Okolie, who was arrested with the aid of the Department of State Services and detained for 10 weeks, has sued the DSS for N500m.
Okolie, in a suit filed earlier than the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, by means of his lawyer, Tope Akinyode, additionally demanded N500m from Hanan Buhari, the daughter of the President, Major General Muhammadu (retd.), as well as a telecommunications company, MTN.
The fit, with wide variety FHC/ASB/CS/3/2020, is looking for an order to “compel the respondents (DSS, Hanan and MTN) collectively or severally to pay the applicant the sum of N500,000,000 only as standard and irritated damages for the gross and illegal violation of the applicant’s right to gather transportable properties, freedom of motion and self dignity.”
The 33-year-antique man said in a supporting affidavit that he turned into arrested on July 19, 2019, in Asaba, Delta State, for the use of a phone line that become formerly owned via Hanan.
According to him, he remained in custody, bound through handcuffs, till September 22, 2019, as the DSS waited for Hanan, who become schooling inside the United Kingdom, to come and clear him but she never did.
Okolie also attached the receipt he changed into issued after buying the SIM card as well as the SIM certificate.
The affidavit examine in part, “That on December 8, 2019, at Ogbeogonogo Market, Nebu Road, Asaba, Delta State, I purchased a SIM card with Phone Number, 09035666662, for the sum of N1,000 simplest and I received a SIM p.C. with accompanying files as a end result as evidence of purchase receipt.
“That in line with applicable regulations, I approached a kit operator of the third respondent (MTN) named Jeff, who captured my biometric and registered the SIM card in my name and on my behalf.
“That in July, 2019, I visited my business associate at his house in Asaba and saw him being taken away by officials of the first respondent (DSS). During the process, they obtained statistics from him on who he communicated with remaining over the smartphone and my associated introduced that it turned into me.
“That right now afterwards, officials of the 1st respondent (DSS) arrested me and led me to their vehicle, asking me to preserve quiet and drove me to their places of work in Asaba, Delta, State.
“That after a even as, they disclosed that my arrest was ordered via the Presidency and I needed to be taken to Abuja for further interrogation on which basis they drove me to Abuja via road the following day.”
The applicant said that he explained to the DSS how he offered the SIM card but he changed into knowledgeable that the telephone line, which was linked to his SIM card, changed into once used by Hanan.
“They thereafter labelled me a criminal for using a telephone line that previously belonged to the second respondent,” he said.
Okolie alleged that due to the character involved, his case report turned into tagged, ‘First Family’ and he was denied access to his lawyers.
The dealer claimed that his mother, who changed into not allowed to see him, developed excessive blood pressure even as he misplaced a N5m commercial enterprise deal.
He added, “They additionally disclosed to me that the President desires to see me and my case become boldly earmarked, First Family. Based on the foregoing, officers of the first respondent (DSS) maintained that the 2d respondent (Hanan) need to be available to make clear her allegations against me earlier than I become allowed freedom from their facilities.
“That the 2nd respondent (Hanan) was contacted several times through officials of the first respondent (DSS) however the second respondent (Hanan) declined making herself to be had through claiming that she became busy with studies inside the United Kingdom.”
Okolie requested the court docket to claim that his lengthy detention become an abuse of his fundamental human rights.
He requested the courtroom to declare that the actions of the DSS contravened sections 35 and 34 of the 1999 Constitution.Ds N500 Million
