Federal High Court orders DSS to release detained Ekiti lawmaker

Source: pointblanknews.com

A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital has

ordered the immediate release of a member of the Ekiti State House of

Assembly, representing Efon Constituency, Hon Afolabi Akanni from the

detention of the Department of State Services (DSS), Abuja.

Hon Akanni was whisked away last Friday, when armed men of the DSS

invaded the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex and he has since

been held incommunicado in the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, while delivering the ruling today, in suit number

FHC/AD/CS/8/16 filed on behalf of Hon. Akanni by his counsel, Obafemi

Adewale said the DSS did not meet all the provisions of the 1999

Constitution (as amended).
The judge who also restrained the DSS from further arresting and

detaining Hon Akanni ruled that warrant to produce Hon Akanni in court

should be served on the DSS.
Justice Taiwo said the court heard the application urgently because of

the life and liberty of a citizen was at stake.
In the motion exparte, a member of the State House of Assembly,

representing Oye Constituency II, Hon. Adetunji Akinyele had deposed

to a 21-paged affidavit, bordering on the infringement of Hon.

Akanni's fundamental human rights.
Apart from seeking the immediate release of Hon Akanni from DSS

detention, the appellant also sought an order of injunction

restraining the DSS and its representatives from further arresting and

detaining him.
Justice Taiwo, who ordered the DSS to release Hon. Akanni immediately,

further ordered that alternatively, the DSS should produce the

lawmaker in his court in Ado-Ekiti next week Wednesday, March 16 and

show reasons he should be released.
Hearing of the substantive application was adjourned till March 21.

Reacting to the ruling, one of the appellant's counsel, Chief Bunmi

Olugbade described it as “rule of law in action.”
Speaking on other members of the House of Assembly that are said to be

missing, Chief Olugbade called for useful information in respect to

their whereabouts.
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