Ajibola Bashiru: Activist Drags DSS To Court Over Plan To Obstruct EFCC Investigation

.…As DSS Headquarters begins investigation of its erring Officers

A renown human rights Activist and Chairman,Civil Societies Coalition

for the Emancipation of Osun State (CSCEOS),Comrade Adeniyi,Alimi

Sulaiman has dragged the State Director of the Department of State

Security Service (DSS) and two of its Officers before the State High

Court for alleged plan to obstruct the investigation of the Economic

and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the allegation of financial

impropriety leveled against the immediate past State Attorney-General

and Commissioner for Justice,Mr Ajibola Bashiru.

However, the Director-General of the Security Service had begun the

investigation into the allegation of compromised and complicity

leveled against its State Director and two Officers on the subject

matter.

The group had earlier forwarded a Petition Letter dated Wednesday,

19th December,

2018, with the titled;”The petition against Osun State Director of

(SSS) and one of his officers, Mr. Kunle Shofola with phone number

(08168933030) over conspiracy with Osun ex-commissioner, Mr. Ajibola

Bashiru and his lawyer by planning to obstruct the EFCC investigation

on the alleged illegal acquired N2.2billion properties with public

funds and plan to illegally arrest the EFCC complainant and

Chairman,Civil Societies Coalition for the Emancipation of Osun State

(CSCEOS) as a way to sabotage the effort of the anti-graft agency and

President Muhammadu Buhari on the war against corruption”, to the

Director-General of the Security Service for necessary action on the

erring officers.

In a suit filled by the Counsel to the Applicant(Sulaiman), Barrister

Adedore Adedokun,urged the Court to restrain the security service from

arresting the applicant.

According to the Originating Summons of the suit,requesting from the

Court that; “The continuous hunting and threat of arrest of the

Applicant on a false complaint by the Respondent and his agents is

contravention of Fundamental rights to personal liberty and right to

freedom of movement as guaranteed by sections 35 and 41 of the 1999

Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) Articles

5 and 12 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights

(Ratification and Enforcement) Act.

Sulaiman requested the Court to grant him an order of perpetual

injunction restraining the Department of State Security Service (DSS)

from arresting him on false Complain lodged to DSS by one Ajibola

Bashiru, the former Commissioner in the State.

Supporting his claims with deposed Seventeen (17) paragraph Affidavit

which he made in good faith on 20th December,2018.

The suit also alleged that the conduct and threat of the Respondent

against the Applicant has subjected the Rights Activist to

mental,psychological and physical torture and as well affected his

right to freedom of movement.

Sulaiman further said; ” Having noticed the intention of the

Respondents against him,the Law allows him to take step before they

are illegally arrested him as provided for in section 46 of the

amended 1999 Constitution.

“The Law bestows on every person resident in Nigeria, both high and

low,a right to go about his or her lawful business unmolested or

unharmed by anyone else,be it Government functionary or a private

individual and the Courts will frown upon any manifestation of

arbitrary power assumed by anyone over the life or property of

another, even if that other is suspected of having breached some laws

and regulations.

Barrister Adedokun supported his argument with the case of A.S.E.S.A.

Vs. Ekwenem(2001) Federation Weekly Law Reports Part 51 Page 2034 At

2037 Ratio 1,the Supreme Court in the case of Odogu VS. A.G. of the

Federation (1996)6 NWLR(Part 456) Page 508 At 513 Ratio 6 and the

Supreme Court in the case of Adisa VS. Oyinwola (2000)10Nigeria Weekly

Law Report(Part 647)At Page 132 Ratio 13.

The legal practitioner submitted that the Respondent on behalf of

Ajibola Bashiru have breached the Fundamental rights of the Applicant

(Sulaiman) to personal liberty and freedom of movement by undermining

the Supremacy of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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