The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami said the Federal Government will appeal the judgment of an Oyo State High Court which awarded N20 billion in damages against the Department of State Service for invading Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho’s Ibadan residence.
VAM News had reported that Justice Ladiran Akintola who delivered the ruling described DSS’ action as “arbitrary aggression and prejudices” against Igboho, stating that the N20 billion will serve as exemplary and aggravated damages.
Malami stated this while speaking on the development in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja on Friday.
NAN quoted Malami as saying that “efforts are already being made to commence the process of appealing the judgment”.
Recall that DSS invaded the Soka’s residence of Igboho in Ibadan, Oyo State at about 1:30 am on July 1, 2021, leading to the arrest of 12 of his aides, while the activist managed to escape arrest.
Following the raid, Igboho filed a notice of application, through his lawyer, Yomi Alliyu in which he sued the Federal Government and demanded damages.
The pro-Yoruba self-determination activist asked the court to order the respondents to jointly pay him the sum ₦500m as special damages for the damage done to his house and his car and another ₦500bn as exemplary and aggravated damages for beaching his fundamental rights with the malicious invasion of his house as well as an order directing the Federal Government and the other respondents to tender a public apology in two national dailies.
