Ex-Militant Leader, Torughedi In DSS Custody Slams FG, Claims Damages Over Unlawful Arrest

Ex-Militant Leader, Mr Kile Selky Torughedi arrested over his alleged involvement with the Niger Delta Avengers is fighting back through his lawyers.

NewsWireNGR recalls that, following the statements issued by the DSS as seen here, the group, Niger Delta Avengers, denied that the suspects, Christian Oluba, alias Sensor, and Selky Kile Torughedi, arrested by the DSS, in connection with foiled attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta, were its members.

In a motion filed before the Federal High Court Abuja, through his lawyer, Emeka Uchegbulam and Co, the Ex-Militant, Mr Kile Torughedi still in detention is asking for a sum of one hundred million naira (100, 000, 000.00) only for psychological, emotional trauma, humiliation, harassment, intimidation and unlawful detention.

According to the Lawyer, “himself and the wife of the Ex-militant has visited DSS on several occasions but were refused access to Mr Selky Turoughedi also known as Young Shall Grow since he was arrested in Calabar and moved to Abuja”.

He added that Kile Selky Torughedi, a.k.a Young Shall Grow has always been a law abiding citizen. After he accepted amnesty he was appointed the special Adviser to the Bayelsa State governor on Marine security, a position he held until the end of the first tenure of the current Bayelsa State Governor.

“He (Kile Selky) has helped the Bayelsa state police command to first sea pirates. Most times he funded the fuelling gunboats for Bayelsa State police Command.

He has helped in many ways to fight against kidnaping in Southern Ijaw LGA.” , Uchegbulam tells newsmen.

He further stated that “the allegation that he (Kile Selky Torughedi) carried out surveillance to kill a soldier in kaduna is a fabrication and imagination of the DSS. People either attempt to commit crime or are arrested to committing same. Nobody is arrested for intention. Even the devil does not know the heart of a man. Nothing”.

My client, “Chief Selky Torughedi was arrested in his house, him and his naked wife were beaten up at about 12:30 am in the early hours of the morning when he was sleeping with his family. He was humiliated by the DSS for an offence that is unsubstantial and still in the imagination of the security agents.”

In his motion filed before the Federal High Court Abuja, the lawyer approached the court asking for the following:
a) A DECLARATION that the arrest and detention of the Applicant since 17th day of June 2016 till date without trial is illegal, unlawful, oppressive as it violates the fundamental rights as enshrined under section 34, 35 of the 1999 C0nstitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
b) A DECLARATION that the arrest and detention of the Applicant since 17th day of June 2016 till date without access to his legal representative is illegal, unlawful, oppressive as it violates the fundamental rights as enshrined under section 34, 35 of the 1999 C0nstitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
c) A DECLARATION that the continued detention of the Applicant since 17th June 2016 without trial/arraignment to court is contrary to section 34 and 35 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
d) AN ORDER of this honorable court compelling the Respondent to immediately release the Applicant who have been in detention since 17th June 2016 till date at the State Security Services (SSS) headquarters/and or any of the Respondent’s cell for an unknown offence.

The Niger Delta Avengers, in a statement, by its spokesperson, self-styled Brig Gen Mudoch Agbinibo denying the ex-militant had said: “Reports that Selky Kile Torughedi, arrested by DSS, is an alleged members of Niger Delta Avengers is laughable.

The group went on to state “The fact is that they are sleeper agents of the DSS sent after the Niger Delta Avengers. “The boys has (sic) the right to demand for their money from DSS. Why not pay them instead of arresting and labeling them as Niger Delta Avengers members.

“If DSS is denying this, let them allow the suspects to speak to the press. We (Niger Delta Avengers) do not have any connection with these boys. We dare the DSS to allow the boys to tell the world their side of the story.