The Federal High Court, Kano has ruled that the detention of Alhaji Bello Damagum, a director with Media Trust Limited and two others by the State Security Service (SSS) was unlawful and tantamount to a violation of the fundamental human rights as enshrined under chapter 4 section 35 of the const-itution.
Bello Damagum and two others were detained from June 23 to July 7, 2004.
Delivering the judgement yesterday in a suit filed by Bello Damagum, Muhammad Nazif and Mu’awiyya Baba-yaro, the presiding judge, Justice Adeniyi Adetokunbo Ademola also awarded N150,000 as damages and compensation jointly and severally to the applicants, against the N35 million requested.
The judge ruled that the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS) shall give written public apology to the three applicants, for their unlawful detention.
He, however, struck out the fourth relief sought by the applicants for immediate release of all the applicants as it has been overtaken by event since they have been released on bail.
Justice Adeniyi Adetokumbo Ademola also awarded N15,000 as cost to all the applicants jointly and severally from the first respondent, the State Security Service (SSS).
Briefing newsmen sho-rtly, after the judgement, Alhaji Bello Damagum said he was happy with the out-come of the case especially the public apology dem-anded from the State Security Service (SSS) for the violation of their rights.
He however, was not happy with the N150,000 mone-tary compensation saying it was not enough to deter the SSS from such abuse of citizens rights as guaranteed by the constitution.
Malam Bello Damagum said their loss during the period of arrest and detention was unquantifiable, adding that none of what was taken from them has been returned by the SSS except his bank statement.
On his general experience during the entire episode, the Media Trust director said he has learnt a lot of lessons but that will not deter him from continuing with his religious obligations to his comm-unity.
“I will however be more careful with the type of people I visit in the course of Islam because it is unfortunate that people you try to assist turn around to accuse you of crimes that you have never dreamt of knowing let alone commit.”
Malam Bello stated that his intention to sponsor potential Qur’anic reciters to Mauritania was principally to promote the young Qur’anic students who come from poor families.
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