...... Counsel to Sherif says it's against the law for DSS to handle over civil matter


A retired Assistant Police Commissioner, Sheriff Rabiu has been detained by the Department of State Services (DSS) following a petition bothering on civil case.

The administration of Criminal Justice Law prohibits security agencies including the police and DSS to get involved in civil cases and/or detain suspects in that regards.

Besides the case being civil, the same matter which is the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts, is currently being investigated by the police, according to Sheriff's lawyer, Barr Gabriel Adiku.

Sheriff was detained on Friday following a petition written on behalf of Sebore Farms Limited through its lawyers A.S Mohammed. Sebore Farms belong to former Adamawa State governor, Murtala Nyako and his family.

In a petition addressed to the Director of DSS, Adamawa State command, Sheriff was instructed by Sebore Farms to buy a landed property at the cost price of N80 million.

Sheriff was alleged to have changed the sales agreement to Ashran Nigeria Limited, a company, the complainant believed belongs to Sheriff.

The disturbing aspect of the matter, according to Sheriff's lawyer is that the same complaint is currently being investigated by the police.

A report to that effect as seen by TGNEWS.COM.NG, show that the police requested that Nyako needed to give further evidence to prove his case against Sheriff.

Adiku therefore, wondered why the same complaint was made to the DSS, despite its want of jurisdiction to entertain such complaints.

In a letter addressed to the DSS Director, challenging Sheriff's invitation and subsequent detention, Adiku, reminded the DSS that, the agency inviting and detaining Sheriff was an abuse of power.

The letter seen by TGNEWS.COM.NG, Adiku said, "this act of the complainant prostituting between security agencies is strange as bringing the same matter which is before the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) before you is an abuse of the law.

"More so that the national agencies act which establishes the State Security Services in section 2 (3) clearly provides thus: (a) the prevention and detection within Nigeria of any crime the internal security of Nigeria; (b) the protection and preservation of all non-military classified matters concerning internal security of Nigeria", he said.

Adiku therefore told our Correspondent that his client's (Sheriff) ordeal was " a show of power and its abuse".

Efforts to hear from the DSS were unsuccessful, as officers contacted advised our Correspondent to wait till Monday.

Criminals abound from that side

Fahdiga:
Criminals abound from that side

No be say I dey insult you o. I'm just asking out of curiosity... Do you have a job outside Nairaland?

I think you deserve an award for being here dawn to dusk