HeraldersTimes News update
COURT ORDERS DSS TO RELEASE DETAINED BENUE COUNCIL CHAIRMEN
David Mzer
A Federal High Court sitting in Makurdi, has ordered the Department of State Security Service, DSS, to release the four detained Local Government Chairmen in Benue State.
The Presiding Judge, Justice Abdu Dogo gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte application brought by counsel to the chairmen, Joseph Oche, praying the court to grant bail to the council Chairmen, pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion for the enforcement of their fundamental human right.
Veronica Gajir (Ushongo), Alfred Atera (Katsina-ala), James Oche (Ado) and Mike Ubah(Guma) have been in detention after honouring the invitation of the DSS early this week,for reasons yet to be known.
Based on the order of the court, the chairmen are to be released on bail with effect from today, and failure to do so, the DSS will come and show cause on Monday, July 10th, 2023, while the chairmen should not be released pending the application for the enforcement of the fundamental right.
Justice Dogo also ordered that the Motion Exparte along with the affidavit and written address in support and the affidavit
of urgency to be served on the DSS today, July 7th, 2023.
The Court gave the DSS up to next Monday, July 10th, 2023, by 12 noon to file and serve on counsel to the chairmen their response or counter affidavit in opposition to the release of the chairmen on bail.
Justice Dogo thereafter adjourned the matter to Monday, July 10th, 2023 at 2pm for the DSS to show cause why the four council should not be admitted to bail.
The continued detention of the four local government chairmen without trial in court had triggered wide condemnations by analysts within and outside Benue State.
