Pastor Sotitobire Alfa Babatunde, the founder of Praising Chapel, Akure on Thursday sued the Department of State Services at the Federal High Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State over his “arrest and unlawful detention”.

Babatunde’s church was razed down by mob on Wednesday, following the abduction of a one-year-old baby boy, Gold Kolawole, during the church’s Sunday service in November.

Three Civilians and Police officer, were killed, while properties worth millions of naira belonging to the church were destroyed, during the mob action .

In a suit filed by his counsel, Mr. Yemi Omoware, the pastor, who has been in DSS custody for the past few days in connection with the incident, sought the order of the court to release him from the custody of the security agency.

The applicant said his arrest and detention by the DSS was an abuse of the legal process and a violation of his fundamental right.

The Department of State Services, Director-General of the DSS, and Messrs Emmanuel Anaobi, Isaac Babalola and Remi Oluwalogbon are the respondents in the suit.

In the suit, an order was being sought “directing/compelling the release of the applicant unconditionally from the custody of the respondents.”

The suit sought an order “enforcing the fundamental rights of the applicant to liberty and dignity of human person, which rights were violated by the respondents.”

The applicant also sought an order “restraining the respondents, their agents, servants, subordinates and or any person(s) taking instructions from them whatsoever/whosoever from engaging in any further acts of arrest, detention and violation” of his right to liberty and or dignity of human person.”

According to the suit, “A N100m as aggravated damages against the respondents jointly and severally for the violation of the fundamental rights of the applicant,” was sought.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

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