SSS Appeals court’s Judgment Over Sanusi 

The State Security Service (SSS) has appealed the ruling by a Lagos State High Court ordering it to pay N50 million damages to the suspended Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

Sanusi had approached the court asking for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights and the declaration that the SSS abridged his fundamental human right by seizing his international passport.

President judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba had awarded N50 million judgment cost against the SSS for the unlawful seizure of Sanusi’s passport.

But in a statement Friday by its spokesperson, Ms. Marilyn Ogar, the SSS expressed disappointment and dissatisfaction with Justice Buba’s ruling.

Ogar said by impounding Sanusi’s passport, the SSS acted in accordance with the law.

The SSS said  its action was backed by Section 3(2) (b)  of Instrument SSS No. 1 of 1999, made pursuant to Section  6 of the National Security Agencies (NSA) Act.

The statement said in part: “The State Security Service is hereby empowered to impound and keep in its custody the passports or any other property of persons or organizations under investigation if considered appropriate by the Director General.

“Returns of all such seizures shall be rendered to the National Security Adviser, while such passports shall be returned to the owners as soon as the investigation is concluded.

“It is therefore necessary to state that in impounding the passport of Mallam Sanusi Lamido, the Service acted in accordance with the law.

“Consequently, the Service has taken immediate steps to appeal this rather erroneous judgement. Notwithstanding, this Service holds and continues to hold the judiciary in high esteem as critical partners in nurturing our democracy and nation building.”