Peace Corps slams N2bn Suit Against Police, DSS, AGF Over Unlawful Arrest

The Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) has slammed a N2 billion suit against the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Inspector General of Police (IGP) and the Director-General of the Department of State Service (DSS) over the unlawful arrest and detention of its National Commandant, Ambassador Dickson Akoh and 49 others in an unlawful raid of the organization’s headquarters in Abuja last week by a combined team of Police and the DSS.

In the suit file by a former AGF, Kanu Agabi (SAN), the plaintiffs are demanding for a sum of N2 billion as compensation for the embarrassment caused the Peace Corps of Nigeria and its Incorporated Trustees by the arrest and detention of its personnel in a commando style by security operatives.

In the suit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the plaintiffs are asking the court to declare as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional the arrest of Ambassador Akoh and other officers of the Corps as well as the sealing up of its Head office in Abuja and offices in the 36 States of the Federation.

Plaintiffs further asked the court to declare that under the 1999 constitution as amended, they have not committed any offence to warrant their arrest, detention and sealing up of their offices across the country as done by the defendants.

The defendants in the suit are Police, IGP, National Security Adviser (NSA), DSS, DG-DSS and the AGF who are 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th respondents respectively.

Apart from the above reliefs, the plaintiffs asked the court to declare that the sealing up of their office Headquarters in Abuja is illegal, unlawful, malicious and unconstitutional, having not committed any offence to warrant the unlawful invasion and seizure of properties.

Besides, the applicants are asking the court to declare that they are entitled to fundamental rights to acquire and own properties, lawful assembly, freedom of movement, personal liberty and dignity of their human persons as guaranteed under sections 34, 35, 40, 41, and 43 of the 1999 constitution.

The plaintiffs therefore applied for an order compelling the respondents to un-seal the Headquarters of the Peace Corps of Nigeria and its offices nationwide.

They also asked the court to order the respondents to release properties seized during their unlawful invasion of the applicants’ offices  and also prayed the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their privies or agents from further sealing the applicants’ office and disrupting their activities, including its meetings and orientation of its members.

They further asked the court for an order restraining the respondents perpetually from further harassing, intimidating, arresting and or detaining the applicants in the course of doing their legitimate and lawful duties.

Tribune