JUST IN/ JOURNALIST ABIRI SUES DSS, DEMANDS N200M

Recently released journalist, Jones Abiri, has dragged the Department of State Service, DSS, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, demanding N200million compensation for his prolonged detention without trial. Mr Abiri’s application was heard, yesterday.

Mr Abiri, a publisher of a Bayelsa State-based weekly paper, Weekly Source, was arrested by operatives of DSS in July 2016 and detained till July 2018 without trial.

He was later arraigned following wide condemnation of his prolonged incarceration, and was subsequently granted bail.

In the suit, Abiri is asking the court to compel the DSS to pay him for the flagrant abuse of his rights and torture experienced during his detention by DSS operatives.

Abiri in the suit through his counsel, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, is contending that his prolonged detention without trial violates his right to personal liberty, dignity of person, freedom of association and fair hearing among others.

The case was however, not heard, yesterday, as the respondent was yet to file an affidavit replying to the motion brought against the DSS. When the case was called, Mr Abiri’s lawyer, Samuel Ogala, appeared for the applicant, but DSS counsel, G. O. Agbadua, asked the court for time for his client respond to the application.

The matter was subsequently adjourned till September 3, for further hearing.