The Appeal Court on Tuesday struck out N20 billion damages awarded to Yoruba nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo also known as Igboho following the violent invasion of his residence in Ibadan, Oyo state capital last year.
Delivering the judgement in an appeal filed by the Attorney General of the Federation, Department of State Service (DSS) and Director, DSS in Oyo State, Justice Muslim Hassan held that Justice Ladiran Akintola, who delivered the judgement on September 17, 2021, acted on the wrong principles of law in awarding the cost to Igboho.
It would be recalled that the Oyo State High Court had declared the raid conducted by the DSS on the residence of the Yoruba nation agitator, Igboho, in Ibadan as illegal.
The court also ordered DSS to pay N20 billion to Igboho as exemplary and aggravated damages.
Justice Ladiran Akintola described DSS’ action as “arbitrary aggression and prejudices” against Igboho.
However, in its sitting, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan nullified the judgement of an Oyo State High Court which awarded N20 billion damages to Igboho.
He said that Justice Akintola can’t assess damages claimed by Igboho using his own conceived parameters.
Justice Hassan thereby set aside the earlier judgment which declared the attack on the house of Yoruba nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo illegal.
The court also nullified the N20 billion exemplary and aggravated damages awarded against DSS for the attack, describing it as outrageous.
