Court sets aside Igboho’s N20bn judgement against DSS

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has set aside the N20 billion damages awarded to Yoruba self-determination activist Sunday Adeyemo last year after the violent invasion of his residence by Department of State Security (DSS) officers.

It would be recalled that Adeyemo had gone to court to seek justice challenging the action, which led to the death of some of his aides.

Justice Muslim Hassan on Tuesday nullified the judgement of an Oyo State High Court, which awarded N20 billion damages to Adeyemo, popularly known as Igboho.

The judge gave the order following an appeal filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, State Security Service and Director, State Security Service in Oyo State.

According to the judge, Justice Ladiran Akintola, who delivered the judgement on September 17, 2021, acted on the wrong principles of law in awarding the cost to Igboho.

He said that Justice Akintola can’t assess damages claimed by Igboho using his own conceived parameters.

Justice Hassan thereby set aside the earlier judgment which declared the attack on the Ibadan house of Adeyemo illegal.

The court also nullified the N20 billion exemplary and aggravated damages awarded against the DSS for the attack, describing it as outrageous.

Justice Hassan held that the Oyo High Court ignored the case’s merit while assuming jurisdiction, adding that the judge should not have awarded damages based on his personal parameters.