Sunday Igboho goes to S’Court insists on N20b damages

By Ologeh Joseph Chibu

Yoruba Nation promoter, Chief Sunday Adeyemo has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision that cancelled the N20 billion damages awarded to him against the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

Following the raid on his Ibadan residence, where two people were allegedly killed and 12 others arrested, around July 2021, Igboho sued the AGF, the DSS, and the DSS Director in Oyo State, seeking N5.5 billion in damages.

Awarding N20 billion in damages against the AGF and the DSS, In September 2021, an Oyo State High Court ruled in his favor, holding them accountable for the raid.

However, in August 2022, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan overturned the judgment.

Justice Muslim Hassan, who presided over the appeal, ruled that the lower court had misapplied legal principles in awarding the damages. He argued that the trial judge lacked concrete evidence to quantify the alleged losses and that the case did not qualify as a human rights enforcement matter due to national security concerns. The court also noted that no autopsy reports were provided to confirm the alleged killings during the raid.

Dissatisfied with the appellate court’s verdict, Igboho, through his legal counsel, Yomi Aliyu (SAN), filed an appeal at the Supreme Court on March 11, 2025. He contends that the Court of Appeal erred in its ruling and has urged the Supreme Court to reinstate the N20 billion damages.

In his appeal, Igboho argues that it was not his responsibility to provide autopsy reports for those allegedly killed, particularly as the DSS did not deny the deaths in court. He also faulted the appellate court for dismissing the claim for special damages due to the absence of a valuation report, despite affidavit evidence and expert invoices detailing the losses. According to him, the trial court’s assessment of aggravated and exemplary damages was legally sound and consistent with judicial principles.

Additionally, Igboho challenges the validity of the DSS and AGF’s response at the Court of Appeal, stating that their submissions were filed outside the legally prescribed timeframe.

The Supreme Court’s ruling on this case is expected to have significant implications for government accountability and the legal framework surrounding self-determination movements in Nigeria.