The Court of Appeal virtually sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State has dismissed an appeal filed by the State Security Service (DSS), also known as the Department of State Services (DSS) against a judgment in favour of a pipeline surveillance contractor, Richard Abbey.

The presiding judge, Justice Danlami Zama Senchi, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 in suit number: CA/PH/38/23 between the State Security Service and two others versus Richard Abbey and others, as appellants and respondents, respectively, dismissed all the issues raised and canvassed by the appellant in favour of the respondent.

Recall that Justice Elsie Thompson of the Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had on Tuesday, December 6, 2022 ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay N20 million to Abbey as damages for unlawfully arresting and detaining him for over two weeks.

Justice Thompson ruled that the DSS violated the fundamental human rights of Mr. Abbey by arresting and detaining him unlawfully.

Abbey, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of Ricardo Security Services Nigeria Limited, is a pipeline surveillance contractor to Shell Petroelum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) in Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State.  

Reacting to the judgment, counsel to the respondent, Olusegun Ajayi hailed the judgment of the Court of Appeal, stating that the court remains the last hope of the common man, reminiscizing that the home of his client was on Saturday, July 16, 2022 invaded by the DSS, which vandalized his property and traumatized his family.

“He was arrested, handcuffed and taken away into the custody of the DSS for 24 days. They didn’t allow his family to see him, not even me his lawyer was allowed to see him despite several efforts I made to come in contact with him to see him while in their custody.”

He commended the judiciary for serving justice in the case and consolidating the hope of the citizens in the courts, as well as ensuring the rights of citizens do not continue to be trampled upon by state institutions.

Counsel to the DSS was unavailable for comments as at the time of this report.