Yoruba Nation agitator, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has filed an appeal at the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the Court of Appeal’s ruling that nullified the N20 billion damages awarded to him against the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF).

Igboho had initially sued the AGF, DSS, and the DSS Director in Oyo State, demanding N5.5 billion in damages over the July 2021 raid on his Ibadan residence, during which two people were reportedly killed and 12 others arrested.

In September 2021, an Oyo State High Court ruled in his favor, awarding N20 billion in damages against the AGF and DSS. However, in August 2022, the Court of Appeal in Ibadan overturned the decision, with Justice Muslim Hassan ruling that the lower court lacked sufficient evidence to justify the damages. The judge also stated that the case did not qualify as a human rights enforcement matter due to national security concerns and noted the absence of autopsy reports confirming the alleged killings.

Dissatisfied with the ruling, Igboho, through his lawyer, Yomi Aliyu (SAN), filed an appeal at the Supreme Court on March 11, 2025. He argued that the appellate court erred in its judgment and maintained that the burden of providing autopsy reports was not on him, as the DSS did not deny the killings in court.

Igboho also faulted the Court of Appeal for dismissing special damages due to the lack of a valuation report, despite affidavit evidence and expert invoices detailing his losses. He contended that the trial court’s assessment of aggravated and exemplary damages was reasonable and consistent with legal principles.

Additionally, he raised concerns about the validity of the DSS and AGF’s response at the Court of Appeal, arguing that it was filed beyond the stipulated timeframe.

The Supreme Court’s decision on the appeal is expected to set a legal precedent on government accountability and self-determination rights in Nigeria.