A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Friday dismissed a fundamental human rights suit filed by a staff of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Sa’adatu Yaro, against the Department of State Services.
The suit sought an order releasing her six exotic cars seized by the secret police on July 12 as well as bail from continued detention.
Yaro is the second defendant in the N6.9bn procurement fraud case by the Federal Government against the suspended CBN governor, Godwin Emefile.
Yaro’s absence stalled the commencement of trial on the matter on Thursday.
But in a motion on notice marked FCT/HC/CV/6918/23 Yaro through her lawyer, J.B Daudu SAN, prayed the court to declare her arrest on July 12, 2023, the detention of her husband and seizure of her six exotic cars as an infringement on her fundamental human right
Daudu further argued that the DSS, not being an anti-graft agency, lacked jurisdiction or statutory powers to inquire into the business dealings of the applicant.
He said the continuous detention and torture of the applicant by the DSS since the 12th day of July 2023 violates the applicant’s Right to Dignity of Human Person and Right to Personal Liberty guaranteed by Sections 34 & 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
