The founder of Sotitobire Praising Chapel, Akure, Alfa Babatunde has dragged the State Security Service before the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, over his arrest and detention by the security agency.
Babatunde’ s church was burnt down by some angry youths on Wednesday following the abduction of a one-year-old boy, Gold Kolawole, during church’s Sunday service in November.
Three people which included a police officer were killed while many properties worth millions of naira, belonging to the church were destroyed, during by the mob action.
In a suit filed by his counsel, Mr Yemi Omoware, the pastor, who was alleged to have been detained by the SSS for the past few days, sought the order of the court to release him from the custody of the security agency.
The applicant said his arrest and detention by the DSS was as an abuse of the legal process and violation of his fundamental right of movement.
The respondents in the suit are: the State Security Service, Director-General State Security Service, Mr Emmanuel Anaobi, Mr Isaac Babalola and Mr Remi Oluwalogbon.
In the suit, an order was being sought ” directing/compelling the release of the applicant unconditionally from the custody of the respondents.”
The suit sought an order ” enforcing the fundamental rights of the applicant to liberty and dignity of the human person which rights were violated by the respondents.”
The applicant also sought an order ” restraining the respondents, their agents, servants, subordinates and or any person(s) taking instructions from them whatsoever/ whosoever from engaging in any further acts of arrest, detention and violation” of his right to liberty and or dignity of the human person.”
According to the suit, “A N100 million as aggravated damages against the respondents jointly and severally for the violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant,” was sought.
The date and time for the hearing of the suit have however not been fixed.
