Kebbi journalist drags DSS personnel to court over infringement of fundamental rights

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By El-Yakub Dabai, Birnin Kebbi

A journalist, Shu’aibu Zubairu Tatu, has dragged one Dauda Auwalu Taura, a personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS), Kebbi Command, before a Hight Court IV sitting in Birnin Kebbi.

Zubairu, a reporter with Authority Newspaper filed his case through his counsel, I. M. Danjuma over infraction on his fundamental human rights in a personal domestic issue between the two parties however not involving the respondent’s place of work.

Presenting the case before the presiding judge, Justice Faruk Bunza, the applicant’s counsel told the court that the respondent had evaded service of summons.

“Since the respondent is evading service, we will file an application to serve him by substituted service,” he said.

Danjuma recalled that there was an attempt by the court’s bailiff, Nasiru Umar to serve the respondent sometime in April 2025.

He said when the bailiff called the respondent’s cell phone number, he asked the bailiff to meet him at Plus Centre, Birnin Kebbi to serve him with the summons.

“But when the bailiff went to Plus Centre, he called the respondent but quite disappointingly he switched-off his cell phone,” he said.

Thereafter, Justice Bunza adjoined the case to May 26, to enable the applicant prepare application for substituted service.

Effort to interview the counsel to the applicant on the matter was turned down by the counsel, saying that it was not permitted to comment on the merit of the case in order not to prejudice the outcome of the matter.

He, however, explained the importance of serving the respondent.

“It is only when the respondent is served with the applicant process that the jurisdiction of the court is properly invoke and that’s why we want to effect another window in order to serve the respondent by substituted means.

“This can be done either by pasting it in his last known residential address at Badariya, though, we learnt that he has left the house or by pasting it in any public domain as allowed by the law.

“The cause of action of the case arose not within the cause of respondent’s employment. That is why we did not opt to serve him through his employer, DSS Kebbi command,” he said.

The Counsel said in the event that the respondent oblige voluntarily decided to receive the service from the court, then, there won’t be need for any substituted service again.