The Court of Appeal in Lagos today set aside the N25 million compensatory damages earlier awarded Lagos comedian, Babatunde Omidina " Baba Suwe " over a prolonged detention by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) last year.
In the ruling, the Court of Appeal re-affirmed the right of the NDLEA
to investigate, arrest, detain and prosecute drug suspects as long as
the agency acts within the law.
The court said the NDLEA had not violated Mr. Omidina's rights
because it sought and got court orders from the federal high court to
keep him in custody after the arrested him on the suspicion that he had
ingested hard drugs.
The Court of Appeal came down heavily on the Lagos High court judge
that awarded the damages against the NDLEA, describing the decision as
oppressive and burdensome to an agency of government carrying out its
statutory duties.
Baba Suwe's attorneys led by civil rights activist, Bamidele Aturu, has vowed to take the matter before the Supreme Court.
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