A Kaduna-based activist and #EndBadGovernance protester, Khalid Aminu, has filed a N50 million lawsuit against the Department of State Services (DSS) and its Kaduna State Director for alleged human rights violations.
Aminu’s suit was filed at the Kaduna Judicial Division of the High Court of Justice, Kaduna State.
Through his lawyers, I.U. Wali, Esq, and B.M. Bello, Esq, he is seeking compensation for physical, emotional, and psychological trauma caused by the DSS’s actions.
The activist claims his fundamental rights were flagrantly violated during his arrest and detention by the secret police.
Arrested for Protesting
Aminu was arrested on August 3, 2024, at NEPA Roundabout in Kaduna during an #EndBadGovernance protest.
The protest aimed to highlight the economic hardships caused by President Bola Tinubu’s policies.
He was detained for 68 days without a warrant, arraignment, or access to legal representation, according to court documents obtained by SaharaReporters.
The activist alleges he was subjected to torture and inhumane treatment while in detention.
“They Tortured Me in Custody”
Aminu’s ordeal in detention led to public outcry after he revealed details of the alleged torture.
Two DSS officers, Yusuf Muhammad and Jibrin Nasir, reportedly initiated legal actions against him to suppress his revelations.
However, Aminu responded by filing his own lawsuit, marked as Suit No: KDH/KD/CS/1481/2024.
“My Rights Were Violated”
In his suit, Aminu is demanding a public apology from the DSS, to be published in three national newspapers.
He is also seeking a declaration that his arrest, detention, and subsequent harassment were illegal.
Aminu’s lawyers argue that his arrest violated Sections 34, 35, 36, and 41 of the Nigerian Constitution.
They also cited Articles 4, 5, 6, 7, and 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Sections 8(1-4) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
Compensation and Injunction Sought
The activist is asking for a perpetual injunction to prevent the DSS from further harassing or detaining him.
He described his treatment in detention as degrading, humiliating, and a gross violation of his dignity.
Legal Grounds for the Suit
Aminu’s lawyers listed several grounds for the application, including unlawful arrest, torture, denial of legal access, and intimidation.
They argue that his right to personal liberty, dignity, and freedom of expression was systematically trampled upon.
The lawyers also emphasized that threatening Aminu to retract his truthful accounts of the torture constitutes further violations.
“Justice Must Be Served”
“The DSS cannot act with impunity,” Aminu’s lawyer, I.U. Wali, said in a statement.
“This lawsuit is a step towards holding them accountable for their unconstitutional actions.”
Aminu’s team insisted that no Nigerian should be subjected to such treatment for exercising their democratic rights.
