Anthony Iwuoma
A week after the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State, slammed a N10 million fine against the State Security Service, SSS, the man the agency illegally detained for 10 weeks has begun moves to recover the judgement debt.
Anthony Okolie, was detained for buying an MTN sim card previously used by Hanan Buhari, one of the daughters of President Muhammadu Buhari.
However, Okolie sued the SSS and telecoms firm, MTN, claiming abuse of his human rights and demanded N500 million, “as general and aggravated damages for the gross and unlawful violation of the applicant’s right to acquire moveable properties, freedom of movement and self-dignity.”
The trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, awarded the sum of N10 million against SSS for the abuse of the claimant’s fundamental human rights but said there was no substantial evidence against Hanan and MTN.
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Okolie’s lawyer, Tope Akinyode, on Wednesday, sent a letter to the Director-General of the SSS, requesting the security agency to pay up within 24 hours of receiving the letter.
The letter read: “We are Solicitors to Mr. Anthony Okolie on whose behalf we write you and who we shall hereinafter refer to as our Client.
“As you must have been informed by E.E Daubry, Esq., who represented you in the case of Anthony Okolie V DG SSS & 2 ORS; FHC/ASB/CS/3/2020, the Federal High Court, Asaba slammed a fine of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) against you for violating the fundamental human right of our Client who was detained in your custody for 10 weeks over an MTN SIM Card once used by Hanan Buhari, the daughter of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We have been instructed by our Client to recover the said debt of N10,000,000.00 (Ten Million Naira) from you. You are therefore requested to forward your Cheque to us forthwith in settlement of the judgment debt.
“TAKE NOTICE that unless we receive your Cheque in settlement within 24 hours’ receipt of this letter, we shall have no choice but to take all steps available under law to recover the said sum. This will include but will not be limited to instituting contempt proceedings against you and going after the assets of your establishment. We are certain that you will want to avoid the costs and embarrassment which our next course of action will entail and we hope that good counsel will prevail.”
