The Department of State Security Service (DSS) has explained that it seized mobile phones from rights activist Omoyele Sowore to investigate links to terrorism.
The explanation became necessary after Sowore had filed a suit against the agency praying the court to compel the SSS to return his mobile devices seized during the time of his arrest in 2019.
During the hearing of the suit which came up before Anwuli Chikere of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, Sowore’s counsel, Funmi Falana, probed the legality of keeping Sowore’s devices.
She also challenged the seizure of some money totalling N10,000 belonging to him, in the custody of the SSS especially without a court order guaranteeing same.
Counsel to the SSS however said that the agency did not seize the phone, instead they were recovered during the arrest and that were still being investigated for links to terrorism.
The State’s counsel also raised objection concerning the application on grounds that Sowore is still facing trial on certain charges before another judge.
Mrs Falana faulted the objections and urged the judge to dismiss it on grounds that it lacked merit because the SSS did not present the phones as evidence in the matter it brought against Sowore.
She argued that the DSS has not obtained any order permitting the seizure of the device.
She also asked the judge to order the SSS to pay N20,000,000 in damages to the applicant.
Sowore, who is also a pro-democracy campaigner, was arrested on August 3 for calling for peaceful protest against the Buhari’s government demonstrations which he tagged “RevolutionNow.”
