The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the Department of State Services (DSS) to release the Chairman of Capital Oil, Ifeanyi Ubah, who has been in its custody since May 5, 2017 when he was arrested. The judge, in 100-page judgment also berated the DSS for lying that Ubah was arrested in Abuja when in actual fact, he was arrested in Lagos before he was flown to Abuja.

The billionaire had earlier been arrested and detained by DSS on Friday May 5, 2017 over allegation of not remitting N11 billion being the sum realised from the sales of petroleum products stored in his facility by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

However, the FCT High Court, Jabi on Thursday rejected the application of Mr Ifeanyi Ubah, to secure freedom from the custody of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Justice Yusuf Halilu of FCT High court at the resumed hearing on the matter, granted the order following an ex-parte application brought before him by the Counsel to DSS, Mr G. O. Agbadua.

According to Halilu, it is necessary to grant DSS application in the interest of justice to allow it carry out more investigations about the whole matter.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of FCT High Court in his ruling today held that it is only fair in the interest of justice that the DSS be allowed further time to conclude its investigation.

The judge also earlier dismissed a motion on notice brought by Ubah asking for the court to vacate its earlier exparte order granted on May 10 that allowed DSS to detain Ubah for 14 days.

The initial exparte order elapsed yesterday May 24 and counsel to DSS, G.O.A. Agbadua informed the court of a new motion exparte brought pursuant to Section 296(2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) asking for an order of the court to extend the detention of Ubah for a further period of 14 days.