A federal high court sitting in Abuja has ordered the release of Emeka Ngornadi, a businessman who was arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in April 2021.

Delivering the judgement on Tuesday, Justice Maha, the presiding judge, instructed the DSS to pay ₦5 million to Ngornadi as compensation and exemplary damages for unconstitutionally detaining him for 23 months.

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This brings an end to a legal battle spanning two years, during which Ngornadi’s pregnant wife gave birth while he was in detention.

FIJ earlier reported how the DSS arrested Ngornadi for making comments in support of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a proscribed group.

Speaking to FIJ, Festus Ogun, Ngornadi’s lawyer, said he prayed the court to restrict the DSS, its agents, servants, and officers from further arresting his client.

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Ogun sought “an order of this honourable court directing the first respondent and second respondent to immediately and unconditionally release the applicant; an injunction restraining the respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents, officers or otherwise howsoever from further arresting and retaining the applicant and constituting a threat or hindrance to the applicant’s life, property, and investments and business in any manner whatsoever”.

He described the judgement as a victory against tyranny and arbitrary clampdown on citizens’ liberty.