The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja, has ordered the Department of State Service (DSS) to release a couple reportedly arrested almost two weeks ago in connection to a case involving the suspended Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It held in separate rulings delivered on Tuesday that the continued detention of the Sarkin Hausawa of Lagos and Chairman of the Council of Chiefs, Aminu Yaro, and his wife, Sa’adatu Yaro, by the DSS since 12 July constituted a violation of their rights.
The judge, Edward Okpe, gave the order after listening to the couple’s lawyers – Labi Lawal and Adedayo Adedeji – and reading through the affidavit with the exhibits supporting the separate ex parte applications filed on their behalf.
The lawyers had filed the suits on 18 July, about a week after the couple were arrested, with the DSS and the Attorney-General of the Federation’s office sued as the defendants.
Ruling on the ex-parte applications filed on behalf of the couple on Tuesday, the judge issued “an interim order” for releasing the detainees from the DSS facility in Abuja or any other places “pending the determination” of the couple’s individual suits.
Okpe granted another order restraining DSS “from arresting or administering any inhuman or degrading treatment” on the couple in the interim.
Alongside his wife, Alhaji Yaro was arrested by the DSS at their home in Abuja in the early hours of 12 July. It was reported that the arrest concerned investigations into a case involving Emefiele – related to forex differential fraud. However, several groups had called for Yaro’s release.
The court fixed 31 July for a hearing in both suits.
