Man Sues NDLEA Over Alleged Illegal Detention — Nigeria — The Guardian Nigeria News — Nigeria and World News

A Nigerian, Damilare Ajiboye Samuel, has filed a N50 million lawsuit against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for alleged rights violations.

Ajiboye, in his suit marked FHC/L/CS/1866/24, filed by his lawyer, Bayo Onifade, said his fundamental right to freedom of movement was violated.

The plaintiff is asking the court “for a declaration that his arrest and detention on September 25, 2024 without charge is illegal, unconstitutional, void.

“An order releasing him forthwith into the custody of the respondents.

“An order to pay N50 million only as damages in his favor for his unlawful arrest, detention and continued detention and for any further order or orders that the Court may think fit in the circumstances.”

The businessman alleged that the respondent is trying to implicate him in the possession of substances suspected to be Cannabis found on September 4, 2023 at 19 Imoru Street, Akala Mushin, Lagos.

Pleading his innocence, he insisted he was a businessman involved in car sales and hire purchase.

In an affidavit in support of the suit filed by Babatunde Adelakun, Litigation Registrar in Adebayo Onifade & Co Chambers, he swore “that the plaintiff is a businessman and managing director of Sam Boye Dam Motors and deals in sales of automobiles and hire purchase. ”, adding that sometimes, on September 4, 2023, agents of the respondent searched a drug hiding place at no. 19, Imoru Street, Akala Mushin Lagos, where a quantity of weed suspected to be cannabis was recovered.

“That shortly after the discovery on the same day, the defendant’s agents went to the plaintiff’s house at Adedoja Street no. 9, Mushin Olosa Lagos where they broke into his house but found nothing incriminating in the house.

“And that the agents of the respondent arrested four persons, two young women and two young men namely; Idowu Babatunde, Miss Ayisa Balogun, Adam Fatai Olawunmi and Mrs Folashade Bamishaye and took them to their office in Gbagada where they were released two days later.

He swore that the respondent’s agents took several items from the applicant’s residence, including two of the applicant’s framed pictures, a counting machine, car dealer plate numbers, keys to several vehicles, company documents, SCUML certificate, among others.

Adelakun stated that shortly after the incident, the complainant was shocked to learn that framed pictures taken from his residence were placed next to bags of weed suspected to be cannabis and posted on the defendant’s website that said bags of cannabis i belong with the pretense that he is at liberty.

As a result, the complainant said he wrote a letter of protest to the Agency Commander, stating that the complainant is innocent and is ready to come forward to prove his innocence.

He pointed out that despite this letter and several visits, the respondent did nothing until September 25, 2024, when the applicant was arrested by agents of the respondent at Guaranty Trust Bank, Ijebu Ode Branch, where he had gone to do bank transaction.

Meanwhile, Judge Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa fixed November 25 for the businessman’s suit.