DSS to appeal N50m Sanusi compensation

Abuja – The Department of State Services (DSS) has said that it will appeal against Thursday’s ruling of the Federal High Court Lagos, directing it to release the international passport of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.

A statement by Marilyn Ogar, the Deputy Director, Public Relations, DSS, on Friday in Abuja, expressed 

“disappointment and dissatisfaction with the judgment’’.

Justice Ibrahim Buba gave the ruling in Lagos.

The court had ordered the release of the suspended CBN Governor’s passport and awarded him N50 million as exemplary damages.

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

“For the avoidance of doubt, section 3 (2) (b)  of Instrument SSS No. 1 of 1999 made pursuant to section 6 of the National Security Agencies (NSA) Act, provides as follows:

“The State Security Service is hereby empowered to impound and keep in its custody the passports or any other property of persons or organisations 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.’’

Ogar, however, said that the “service holds and continues to hold the judiciary in high esteem as a critical partner in nurturing our democracy and nation building’’.