Court Orders DSS To Release Blind Saxophonist Arrested For Wearing #BuhariMustGo T-Shirt
A Federal High Court in Abuja has authorized the Department of State Services (DSS) to release a blind saxophonist apprehended at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja for wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirt with immediate effect.
Odogwublog had reported that the victim of the illegal detention, Samuel Iwatonaiye, was insulted by church officials before being turned in to DSS operatives on July 4.
Iwatonaiye and four others had sued the Director-General of the DSS, Yusuf Bichi, Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and pastor of the church, Paul Enenche over their unlawful arrest, detention and violation of their rights.
The youths have been in detention of the secret police since July 4 for wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirts to the church.
They are seeking an order of the court restraining the DSS and other respondents in the suits from violating their fundamental rights to freedom of religion and freedom of expression and the press as guaranteed under Sections 35, 38, 39, and 42 of the 1999 Constitution.
They also want the court to protect their right to freedom from discrimination and personal liberty guaranteed under Articles 1, 2, 6, 8 and 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (CAP. A9), Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The applicants urged the court to order their immediate and unconditional release from the DSS custody.
