-Ilana Omo Yoruba hails verdict, says DSS must pay
Ojo Peter, Ibadan
An Oyo State High Court, today (Friday), awarded N20 billion as aggravated damages against the attorney general of the federation, Abubakar Malami and the Department of State Services (DSS) in the suit filed by Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo, aka Sunday Igboho.
Justice Ladiran Akintola gave the order while delivering judgement in a N500 billion suit filed by Adeyemo against Malami and the DSS over the invasion of his Ibadan residence, on July 1, 2021.
In the suit, Igboho, through his lawyer, Chief Yomi Alliyu SAN, sought orders declaring the invasion as a violation of his fundamental human right and the damage of his property as a violation of his fundamental right to peacefully own property and wealth.
Justice Akintola also awarded N2 billion as cost to the applicant.
Reacting to the judgement, the Ilana Omo Yoruba which is the umbrella body of the Yoruba self-determination group, Ilana Omo Oodua, expressed joy over the judgement.
Igboho had given an inventory of his losses in the July 1 invasion as N2 million in cash, one thousand Euros, travel documents, including international passports belonging to him and his family members, gold jewellery and wristwatches, two mobile phones and other unspecified items that he alleged to have been carted away by the DSS.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Maxwell Adeleye, the group (Ilana Omo Oodua) commended the judiciary and asked the DSS to pay the N20 billion damages in the interest of peace.
Part of the statement read, “We thank the judiciary for re-affirming that self-determination is one of the fundamental human rights of the citizens that cannot be subjugated. Our position is that this verdict symbolises the triumph of light and truth over darkness. Ighoho represents the light and truth, while the Nigerian state stands for illegalities.
“Our position now is that the Nigerian government should be honourable by respecting the verdict of a court of competent jurisdiction. The N20billion damages ordered by the court to be paid to Ighoho by the DSS must be paid with immediate effect in the interest of peace.”