…Corpse to be released for burial, 11 months later
The prolonged wait for justice in the case of Salamatu Adamu, a Lafia-based homemaker who was arrested and allegedly tortured to death by the Department of State Security Service (DSS), has ended with the Federal High Court I in Lafia ruling in favor of the applicants.
Justice Ajiya H. Nganjiwa, presiding over the matter, overruled the preliminary objection of ‘no cause of action’ submitted by the DSS.
The Judge ruled in favor of Salamatu Adamu, awarding a total sum of Four Hundred and Seven Million Naira (N407million) due to the violation of her fundamental rights.
Justice Nganjiwa ordered the DSS to release the deceased’s corpse, currently held at the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital, to the family for burial in accordance with Islamic customs.
Abubakar Abubakar Dogara, attorney for Musa Shittu Mohammed, husband of the deceased, appreciated the court’s decision and the granting of all their petitions against the DSS.
“We are in court upon endorsement of the fundamentals rights of one Salamatu Adamu, who died in the custody of the Department of State Security Service.
“We have filed our processes and the court, in it wisdom asserted that by the outrageous conduct of the respondent (DSSS), have violated the rights of Salamatu Administration, since, of course they can not justify the purpose of her arrest”, Abubakar Dogara said.
He said, we are happy that the court grant all their relief sought, and will continue to fight actions against fundamentals rights.
Abdullazeez Y. Afebwa, the counsel to the DSS, simply appreciated the court for ruling.
When contact for further comment on the telephone after the judgement, Afebwa, refuse commenting, and rather suggested that, a former request be lodged to his office in that regard.
The DSS counsel insisted that, for him to say a word, “I have to seek the audience from my office before I can talk to you.
He later said, he will get back to the reporter, “let me discuss with my people that you called, and as at the time of filing this report, there was no response from the counsel Afebwa.
The DSS had claimed in counter affidavit that, Salamatu Adamu died as a result of sudden dead, with documentary evidence.
The Court, however stroke out all the issues the DSSS brought for determination against the deceased, on account of frivolity.
It will be recalled that, on the November 7, 2023, at about 9am, the deceased mother of two girls and a boy, was arrested at her resident in Tudun Kofa in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.
Allegations have surfaced against Salamatu Adamu, implicating her as an accomplice and conspirator in a kidnapping incident involving a minor, as reported by one Adamu. Subsequently, the DSS reportedly took her into custody and subjected her to fatal mistreatment without due justification.
