Sitting at a Lagos Federal High Court in Lagos State, Justice Muhammed Nasir Yunusa has ordered the immediate release of five workers of All Progressive Congress, APC, who were arrested and detained by the Department of State Security, DSS, in a raid at the party's Data Centre about two weeks ago.
Justice Mohammed Yunusa, on Monday freed the five staff, saying they were detained without explanation adding that it was against the Constitution.
"The arrest and detention of a person for the purpose of obtaining information is clearly a violation of Section 35 of the Constitution," the judge said. "It is clear that there is a contravention of Section 35 and the applicants were not properly brought before a competent court of jurisdiction."
The SSS accused the staff of "unwholesome activities". Five APC staff, Chinedu Atuche, Fayemi Olaposi, Chika Augustine, Ebun Ilori, and Esther Eninumue, were arrested at the APC data office located at Allen Avenue, Lagos State.
The court had at the last adjourned date, ordered the DSS to bring the detained staff to court on Monday.
The judge also made an order restraining the DSS and any other security agency from arresting the five applicants on the suit before the court.
He also ordered that the five APC staff not to travel outside the jurisdiction of the court, and that if there is need or cause for them to travel, they should obtain permission from the court.
Justice Yunusa gave the order while ruling on the human rights application filed before the court by the five APC staff, after their lawyer, Professor Yemi Osibajo, and Mr. Osagie, counsel to the DSS had argued and adopted their applications on the matter.
The case was adjourned till 19th January, 2015, for hearing of the substantive suit.
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