A Federal
High Court in Lagos has dismissed a N2bn fundamental rights enforcement suit
filed against the Lagos State Government by 83 Nigerians of Igbo extraction,
who alleged forceful deportation to Anambra State in 2013.
The
applicants had alleged that the Lagos State Government arrested and transported
them to Onitsha against their consent in July 2013 on the grounds that they
were not indigenes of the state.
They sought a
declaration that their alleged arrest, and forceful transportation was a breach
of their rights to personal liberty, freedom of movement and freedom from
discrimination.
The
applicants, Rosemary Nathaniel, Friday Ndukwe, Grace Igbochi, Ugulori Tutua,
Chinyere Nicholas, Osondu Mbuto and 77 others, asked for N2bn damages against
Lagos State.
According to
their counsel, John Nwokwu, the alleged action violated Sections 35, 41(1) and
42 of the Constitution. The alleged
action was also argued to violate Articles 6, 12, 2 and 28 of the African
Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap.,
A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Joined as respondents in the suit are the Lagos State Attorney General
and the Commissioner of Police in the state.
But Justice
Musa Kurya, in a judgement delivered on Friday, held that the applicants failed
to substantiate the alleged deportation.
The judge
aligned with the argument of the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner
for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, that the state government did not own or operate
any detention centre or prison facility at Ikorodu, where the applicants
claimed to have been detained.
The court
said it believed Ipaye’s submission that the applicants were rescued from
different parts of the state while they were begging for alms, living under
bridges, by the roadsides, and engaging in other social vices with no
discernible means of livelihood or physical address in the state
Source: Punch
No comments:
Post a Comment