Boko Haram: DSS Releases Islamic Cleric Detained in Prison For 424 Days

 

According to the Punch, an Ogun State-based Islamic cleric, Abdul-Ganiy Ibrahim, arrested 424 days ago on the suspicion of being linked with the dreaded terrorist group in Nigeria, Boko Haram, has gained his freedom from the Department of State Services, DSS following a court order.

 

In addition to being released, the court mandated the DSS to pay N1m to the cleric as compensation.

It should be noted that the cleric’s then pregnant wife, Muinat, had been reportedly whisked away from their Ijoko, Ogun State home, around 3am on July 5, 2014 by unidentified gunmen. After searching for about four months, the family, however, later traced the couple to the DSS station in Abeokuta, from where Muinat was released while Ibrahim continued to be detained.

Ibrahim’s release on Monday, 7th of August by the DSS was in compliance with the June 18, 2015 order of a Federal High Court in Abeokuta, which faulted the cleric’s continued detention without being charged before a court of competent jurisdiction.

A human rights lawyer, Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem, had taken the case following reports of Ibrahim's arrest last year.