Hanan Buhari: Court Awards N10 Million Against DSS For Illegal Detention Of Anthony Okolie

A Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, has awarded the sum of N10 Million against the Department of State Services (DSS), for illegally detaining Anthony Okolie for 10 weeks. 

AllNews reports that Okolie was arrested at Asaba and later transferred to the DSS Headquarters in Abuja where he was unlawfully detained for at least 10 weeks for purchasing and using an MTN mobile telephone line previously used but abandoned by Hanan, President Buhari's daughter.

Okolie had sued the DSS for infringement of his rights by detaining him for over 10 weeks and also joined MTN to the suit. 

According to Okolie, he had purchased the sim card with the phone number, 09035666662, for the sum of N1,000 on December 8, 2018, at Ogbeogonogo Market, Nebu Road, Asaba, Delta state.

The suit, with number FHC/ASB/CS/3/2020, sought an order to “compel the respondents (DSS, Hanan and MTN) jointly or severally to pay the applicant the sum of N500,000,000 only as general and aggravated damages for the gross and unlawful violation of the applicant’s right to acquire moveable properties, freedom of movement and self dignity.”

Okolie said in a supporting affidavit that he was arrested on July 19, 2019 in Asaba, Delta State for using a telephone line that was previously owned by Hanan. According to him, he remained in custody, bound by handcuffs till September 22, 2019 as the DSS waited for Hanan, who was schooling in the United Kingdom, to come and clear him but she never did.

In its defence, the DSS claimed the plaintiff was detained for 10 weeks because his offence threatened national security. The agency accused Okolie of using Hanan’s SIM card to solicit money from unsuspecting members of the public, an allegation the applicant denied.

The DSS lawyer, E.E Daubry, who is the Principal Staff Officer, Legal Services, DSS, said the agency decided to detain Okolie without a court order because of the sensitivity of the case.

The President’s daughter, through her lawyer, M.E Sheriff, asked the court not to grant Okolie’s reliefs, insisting that she had never met the applicant before and he should instead channel his anger towards the DSS that detained him.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba struck out the prayer requesting the President’s daughter, Hanan Buhari, and telecoms company, MTN, to pay N500m. The judge however upheld Okolie’s arguments and awarded N10 million cost in his favour.

Akinloye, who confirmed the judgment on his Twitter handle, wrote: ”I’ve been able to persuade the federal high court to award N10 Million naira sum against SSS for the 10 weeks detention of Anthony Okolie over an MTN sim card once used by the daughter of President Buhari, Hanan.”