Court Orders Release 5 Activists Arrested For Wearing #BuhariMustGo

A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to release five activists, including a blind Saxophonist, all of whom were arrested at the Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja for wearing #BuhariMustGo T-shirt with immediate effect.

Justice A. I Chikere of the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the DSS to immediately release the five activists namely: Ben Mannaseh, Emmanuel Larry, Victor Udoka Anene, a blind Saxophonist, Samuel Gabriel Iwatonaiye and Henry Nwodo from custody with immediate effect

The victims of the illegal arrest and detention were abused by church officials before being handed over to DSS operatives on July 4.

Iwatonaiye and four others had sued the Director-General of the DSS, Yusuf Magaji Bichi, Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and pastor of the church, Paul Enenche over their illegal 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.