An Abuja High Court has ordered one Sunday Dominic to pay the Department of State Services (DSS) the sum of ₦5 million as punitive damages for filing what it described as a frivolous and baseless human rights suit against the security agency.
Delivering judgment in the case marked FCT/HC/CV/3984/2024, Justice A.Y. Shafa held that Dominic failed to substantiate his claim that the DSS violated his fundamental rights when he was invited for questioning over alleged fraudulent activities. The judge, after reviewing the evidence presented by both parties, dismissed the suit for lack of merit and declared it frivolous.
Dominic had earlier asked the court to declare that the DSS infringed on his rights to life, dignity, and personal liberty, and demanded ₦10 million in compensation. However, Justice Shafa ruled that the agency acted within its legal powers, emphasizing that the plaintiff’s rights were not violated in any way.
Reacting to the ruling, a senior legal practitioner commended the judgment, describing it as a landmark decision that would strengthen the ability of security agencies to carry out their constitutional duties without undue interference.
“This ruling reinforces the principle that security agencies must be allowed to perform their functions without fear of frivolous lawsuits,” the lawyer said. “If operatives cannot invite individuals for questioning, it would cripple their ability to maintain national security and enforce the law.”
The judgment, legal observers note, serves as a deterrent against baseless litigations aimed at intimidating law enforcement bodies and obstructing justice.