Court orders SSS to release suspects

Justice Jude Okeke the trial judge also declared their detention without trial illegal.But several weeks after the order was made, the SSS, who were not represented in court by a lawyer throughout the duration of the case instituted by the duo, despite being joined as a party have refused to obey the order of the […]

Justice Jude Okeke the trial judge also declared their detention without trial illegal.
But several weeks after the order was made, the SSS, who were not represented in court by a lawyer throughout the duration of the case instituted by the duo, despite being joined as a party have refused to obey the order of the court.
Counsel to the duo, Mr. Jubril Bolori, has however initiated a contempt proceeding against the service.
Justice Okeke held that, “The detention of the applicants for over two months and eight months respectively by the 1st and 2nd respondents (Nigerian Army and SSS) without arraigning them before a court of law are declared illegal and unconstitutional for being in violation of Section 35 of the Constitution.
“The respondents by themselves, agents or assigns are on account of the foregoing perpetually restrained from further arresting or detaining the applicants on the basis of the facts of this matter except as may otherwise be ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.
In the contempt charge filed against the SSS and the Nigerian Army, the two bodies were asked to show cause why the Chief of Army Staff and the Director-General of SSS should not be committed to prison for not obeying a lawful court order.