DSS Ordered To Grant Ex-Director Access To Doctors, Lawyer

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Department
of State Service (DSS) to allow its former director, Mr Abba
Mohammed, access to his physician, family members and counsel.

Justice B.O Quadri, who issued the order, also directed that the
detainee should be allowed to have his “special diet’’ since he was
diabetic.

The judge gave the order following a fundamental human rights
enforcement suit filed against the Director-General of DSS and
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Mohammed’s counsel, Mr Samuel Ogala, had told the court that his
client was critically ill and in need of his medication and access
to his personal physician.

In the application, Ogala also prayed the court to order the DSS
to release his client or charge him to court.

The application could, however, not be heard as counsel to the
DSS, Mr Micheal Ubi, had asked for time to respond to some of the
processes served on him by the applicant’s counsel in court.

He told the court that Mohammed was being detained on orders of
Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court.

According to him, the order is still subsisting.

Consequently, Ogala made an oral application for the court to
allow his client access to his medication, doctors, lawyers and
family members.

Justice Quadri granted the application since it was not opposed
by Ubi.

The judge transferred the case to the central registry for
re-assignment as the court’s vacation ended on Friday.

The former director was arrested by DSS operatives on July 17
and has been held in its custody.

He approached the court seeking a declaration that his detention
without being charged to court for any offence was illegal and
unconstitutional.

He said that the detention violated his fundamental rights to
personal liberty, dignity of person and fair hearing as enshrined
in Section 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

Mohammed is also seeking declaration that his detention without
access to his medical doctors, drugs, family and lawyers, since
July 17 till date was illegal and unconstitutional.

He urged the court to order for his immediate and unconditional
release and compel the DSS to pay him N2 billion as general and
aggravated damages for illegal violation of his fundamental human
rights.

He also asked the court for an order compelling the DSS to
publish in five national dailies a public apology to him for two
weeks for the violation of his rights.

The former director prayed for an order of perpetual injunction
restraining the DSS from further violating his rights.

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Friday, ordered the Department
of State Service (DSS) to allow its former director, Mr Abba
Mohammed, access to his physician, family members and
counsel.

Justice B.O Quadri, who issued the order, also directed that the
detainee should be allowed to have his “special diet’’ since he was
diabetic.

The judge gave the order following a fundamental human rights
enforcement suit filed against the Director-General of DSS and
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

Mohammed’s counsel, Mr Samuel Ogala, had told the court that his
client was critically ill and in need of his medication and access
to his personal physician.

In the application, Ogala also prayed the court to order the DSS
to release his client or charge him to court.

The application could, however, not be heard as counsel to the
DSS, Mr Micheal Ubi, had asked for time to respond to some of the
processes served on him by the applicant’s counsel in court.

He told the court that Mohammed was being detained on orders of
Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court.

According to him, the order is still subsisting.

Consequently, Ogala made an oral application for the court to
allow his client access to his medication, doctors, lawyers and
family members.

Justice Quadri granted the application since it was not opposed
by Ubi.

The judge transferred the case to the central registry for
re-assignment as the court’s vacation ended on Friday.

The former director was arrested by DSS operatives on July 17
and has been held in its custody.

He approached the court seeking a declaration that his detention
without being charged to court for any offence was illegal and
unconstitutional.

He said that the detention violated his fundamental rights to
personal liberty, dignity of person and fair hearing as enshrined
in Section 34, 35 and 36 of the Constitution.

Mohammed is also seeking declaration that his detention without
access to his medical doctors, drugs, family and lawyers, since
July 17 till date was illegal and unconstitutional.

He urged the court to order for his immediate and unconditional
release and compel the DSS to pay him N2 billion as general and
aggravated damages for illegal violation of his fundamental human
rights.

He also asked the court for an order compelling the DSS to
publish in five national dailies a public apology to him for two
weeks for the violation of his rights.

The former director prayed for an order of perpetual injunction
restraining the DSS from further violating his rights.