Court Orders DSS, Minister to Pay Saraki’s Aide Money Over Illegal Detention

The Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday, ordered the Department of State Service, DSS and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, to pay the sum of N20 million as compensation to the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Youth Matters, Ikenga Ugochinyere, over what it called illegal arrest and detention.

The development came as the youth activist, in a statement, alleged that the DSS had perfected plans to re-arrest him over trumped-up charges that would not be bailable .

The court, presided over by Justice J. T. Tsoho, also ordered the DSS and the minister to tender unreserved apologies to the youth leader, in two national dailies for what it described as unconstitutional detention of the youth leader.

Justice Tsoho, in his ruling, also restrained DSS from further arresting Barr. Ikenga or preventing him in the discharge of his duties as President of National Youth Council of Nigeria or any other manner infringing on his fundamental rights.