An Anambra State High Court presided over by Justice R.O. Onunkwo on Thursday gave the Department of State Service (DSS) seven different dates to appear before it or lose its right of defence in a matter of alleged attack on a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Anambra State, Chief Ifeanyichukwu Nwokoye.

Nwokoye, who was a former state campaign coordinator for President Muhammadu Buhari, was in April last year allegedly assaulted in his hotel located in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area, by the men of DSS over allegation of not releasing information of some foreigners lodging in his hotel.

After being discharged from hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during his encounter with the security operatives, Nwokoye dragged DSS to court for infringing on his fundamental rights.

At the resumed hearing on the matter on Thursday, the court warned that after the period granted to the DSS, it would be left with no other option than to enter judgment in default against the security outfit.

Justice Onunkwo also ordered hearing notices on the DSS for March 15, April 5 and 20, as well as May 17, 19, 24 and 26, 2016.

According to him, on March 15, 2016, the DSS would be given the opportunity to cross examine the witnesses who yesterday gave their evidence in chief.

News Express recalls that the court had earlier on March 7, 2016, summoned the DSS to appear before it yesterday, but the security outfit did not honour the summons; instead, its former counsel, Mr. S.T. Oneh, announced his discontinuance with the matter following his disengagement by DSS.

The DSS did not bother to put up appearance at the resumed hearing yesterday, a situation that made the judge to give a leave of the court to the applicant’s lawyer, Prof. Ilochi Okafor (SAN), to proceed with his motion to continue with the case in the absence of the security outfit.

•Photo shows DSS Acting DG, Lawal Daura.

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