By NEXTER
A Federal High Court 1 sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State has given a 7-day ultimatum to the Department of State Security Service (DSSS), to pay into the account of the court, the sum of Four Hundred and Seven Million Naira (N407 million), over the death of Salamatu Adamu in their custody or risk sanctioned.
The case FHC/LF/FHR/13/2024, which was ruled for the second time between Malam Musa Shittu Mohammed vs State Security Service, had the counsel to the DSSS absent in court in the last sitting.
LEADERSHIP reports that on November 7, 2023, at about 9 am, the personnel of the DSSS arrested one Salamatu Adamu at her residence, aged 45 years old, of Tudun Kofa in Lafia over an alleged case of a kidnapped boy in the area.
The deceased mother of two girls and a boy, was reportedly tortured and killed in custody of the DSSS, whereas the court ruling by Justice Ajiya H. Nganjiwa, awarded a cumulative sum of Four Hundred and Seven Million Naira (N407 million), as compensation to applicants at the Federal High Court I in Lafia.
In her ruling, Justice M. O. Olajuwon directed that the DSSS not to take any further action until the said amount is deposited in the court account.
The presiding Judge Olajuwon ordered stay of execution on the condition that, the DSSS deposit the total judgment sum in the interest yielding account of the court within 7 days from today the 24th February, 2025.
And in doing so, she said, the DSSS is to liaise with the Registrar of the Federal High Court, Lafia for compliance.
The judge, mentioned that, the N407 million is a compensation sum to the deceased family of Salamatu Adamu, adding that, as an institution of government that understands rule of law and order, they should not be forced to comply with the court directive.
Based on the motion, the DSSS filed an application before the federal high court seeks to stay execution of the judgement sum.
Also, the DSSS had filed an application of a motion seeking leave to appeal the judgement of the court, which is expected to come up Wednesday, 5th March, 2025 in Makurdi, Benue State.
Speaking after the ruling in court, the counsel to the applicant, Abubakar Abubakar Dogara Esq, appreciated the decision of the court on the matter.
Dogara said, “our case upon which the Federal High Court I compensated our applicant for an equivalent sum of Four Hundred and Seven Million Naira (N407 million).
“Upon that judgement, they didn’t appeal within time and then they filed a motion at the court of appeal seeking the leave of the court of appeal within which to file their motion for an extension of time. We will counter that motion.”
