Court orders DSS to release detained Ekiti lawmaker

A Federal High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Friday ordered the immediate release of a member of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, representing Efon Constituency, Hon Afolabi Akanni, from the detention of the Department of State Services (DSS), Abuja.

Hon Akanni was whisked away last Friday, when armed men of the DSS invaded the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex and he has since been held incommunicado in the DSS headquarters in Abuja.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, while delivering the ruling today, in suit number FHC/AD/CS/8/16 filed on behalf of Hon. Akanni by his counsel, Obafemi Adewale said the DSS did not meet all the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The judge who also restrained the DSS from further arresting and detaining Hon Akanni ruled that warrant to produce Hon Akanni in court should be served on the DSS.

Justice Taiwo said the court heard the application urgently because of the life and liberty of a citizen was at stake.

In the motion exparte, a member of the State House of Assembly, representing Oye Constituency II, Hon. Adetunji Akinyele had deposed to a 21-page affidavit, bordering on the infringement of Hon. Akanni’s fundamental human rights.

Apart from seeking the immediate release of Hon Akanni from DSS detention, the appellant also sought an order of injunction restraining the DSS and its representatives from further arresting and detaining him.

Justice Taiwo, who ordered the DSS to release Hon. Akanni immediately, further ordered that alternatively, the DSS should produce the lawmaker in his court in Ado-Ekiti next week Wednesday, March 16 and show reasons he should be released.

Hearing of the substantive application was adjourned till March 21.

Reacting to the ruling, one of the appellant’s counsel, Chief Bunmi Olugbade described it as “rule of law in action.”

Speaking on other members of the House of Assembly that are said to be missing, Chief Olugbade called for useful information in respect to their whereabouts.