BREAKING: DSS To Arraign Kogi Islamic School Proprietor After Over Two Years In Detention Without Trial

The Department of State Services (DSS) is set to arraign Momoh Abubakar Otuhuo, a former community leader and proprietor of Jamaatul Muslimeen Academy in Eika, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, after holding him in detention since 2022 without trial.

A source told SaharaReporters on Monday that the DSS had contacted Momoh’s lawyer earlier in the day regarding the court appearance.

“They called his lawyers already,” the source said.

Another source disclosed that Momoh would be arraigned at the Federal High Court, opposite the Ministry of Justice.

Momoh has been in detention since 2022 without being charged in court.

Momoh, a trained laboratory technician, was allegedly arrested due to a personal fallout with a former local government chairman.

He was arrested alongside three others — Idris Abdulmalik, a trainee nurse, and two Senior Secondary School students of his school, Masters Aliyu Yusuf and Ishaq Awwal.

A family source who spoke with SaharaReporters said that despite efforts to secure his release, DSS officials at the Abuja headquarters forcefully ejected them when they came to demand justice.

The source said some DSS officials privately admitted that Momoh is innocent but claimed the agency is reluctant to take the matter to court, fearing backlash for their failure to recognise their error in unjustly detaining him and others since 2022.

"We came from Kogi yesterday, and we were at the DSS headquarters protesting for the unconditional release of Momoh. DSS officials forcefully ejected us from the premises," the source said.

Another family member told SaharaReporters that Momoh was arrested in early 2022 for allegedly insulting the then Okehi Council Chairman, Ohiare.

The source added that Momoh’s wife, children, and extended family have been thrown into disarray, as he was the family’s breadwinner before his detention.

According to the family, members of the mosque committee in their community had contributed funds to enable them to travel to Abuja in pursuit of justice, but they were chased away by DSS personnel.

The source further disclosed that Momoh’s elderly mother was physically pushed out of the DSS premises during the protest.

However, they are demanding his unconditional release, accusing the DSS of deceiving the public about its commitment to upholding human rights and compensating individuals who have been illegally detained.

The source added that this claim is not true.

The source stated, "Momoh was arrested in early 2022 after allegedly insulting the then Council Chairman, Ohiare. He is married with children, and since his detention, his family has been thrown into disarray. As the family's breadwinner, his absence has caused severe hardship.

"In a desperate effort to seek justice, members of the local mosque committee contributed money to enable the family to travel to Abuja. However, when they arrived at the DSS headquarters, they were chased away. His mother was even pushed out of the premises."

Meanwhile, to date, Momoh has not been brought to trial.

 "We, the family and supporters, are now calling for his unconditional release. The DSS is deceiving the public with false claims of upholding human rights and compensating victims of illegal detention. These claims do not reflect the reality faced by detainees like Momoh."