However, delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Hassan Dikko, ordered unconditional release of the teenager and directed the DSS to hand over Onyewuenyi to the police for a full investigation.
The ruling also dismissed any internal investigation previously claimed to have been conducted by the DSS, describing the agency’s actions as an attempt to shield its operative from accountability.
Justice Dikko characterized the alleged conduct as “condemnable,” underscoring the seriousness of the accusations.
Counsel to the teenager’s family, Kabiru Adamu, described the judgment as a victory not just for his client but for the rule of law.
He said, “This ruling reinforces public confidence in the judiciary as the last hope of the common man.”
He urged the police to ensure a transparent and timely investigation once the suspect is handed over.
A Magistrate’s Court in Hadejia had ordered the release of the teenager and the transfer of the suspect to the police, a directive that was contested by the DSS at the Federal High Court.
