A Federal High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Department of State Services (DSS) to pay N407 million into the court’s account as compensation for the death of Salamatu Adamu in their custody or face sanctions.

On November 7, 2023, about 9 a.m, the deceased mother of two girls and a boy, was arrested at her residence in Tudun Kofa in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

She was allegedly accused by one Adamu, as been one of those that kidnapped a little boyiwhich led to the DSS reportedly picking and torturing her to death without justification.

The case happened under the immediate past director-generak of DSS , Alhaji Yusuf Magaji Bichi, who was succeeded by Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, who assumed office as DG DSS on 28th August, 2024.

The order for the huge payment was given in a case number FHC/LF/FHR/13/2024, between Mallam Musa Shittu Mohammed and the DSS.

Justice Ajiya H. Nganjiwa had earlier ruled that the DSS pay a cumulative sum of N407 million to the family of the deceased, a 45-year-old mother of three from Tudun Kofa, Lafia, who was allegedly tortured and killed while in custody.

Delivering the ruling, Justice M.O. Olajuwon directed the DSS not to take any further action until the judgement sum is deposited in the court’s account.

“The stay of execution is granted on the condition that the DSS deposits the total judgment sum in an interest-yielding account of the court within seven days from today, February 24, 2025,” she ruled.

The judge emphasised that as a government institution, the DSS should comply with the court’s directive without coercion.

“The N407 million is a compensation sum for the family of Salamatu Adamu. As an institution that understands the rule of law, the DSS should not need to be forced to comply with the directive,” she added.

Meanwhile, the DSS has filed an application seeking to stay the execution of the judgement and has also sought leave to appeal the ruling at the Court of Appeal, Makurdi.

The appeal hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, 5th March 2025.

In an interview with journalists in his office on Monday, explaining the context of the ruling, counsel to the applicant, Abubakar Abubakar Dogara Esq, commended the court’s decision.

“Our case, upon which the Federal High Court I compensated our applicant, was for an equivalent sum of N407 million. The DSS failed to appeal within the stipulated time and has now filed a motion seeking an extension to do so at the Court of Appeal. We will counter that motion,” he said.

As of 3rd March 2025, which marks the last day of the court’s ultimatum, the DSS was yet to deposit the judgement sum into the court’s account.