The 76 destitute persons, who were deported by the Lagos State Government and dumped on the Upper Iweka Bridge, Onitsha, Anambra State on July 24, 2013, have dragged the Lagos State Government to a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
The suit was filed by seven of the deportees: Nnenna Ogbonna, Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu as the applicants, on behalf of the 76 others, while the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State are the respondents.
In the motion filed by their lawyer, Ugo Ugwunnadi, the applicants asked the court to declare that they, as Nigerian citizens were entitled to the enjoyment of their fundamental rights as provided for in Sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41 and 42 of the 1999 constitution, as amended.
The applicants are also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, workers and officers from their further deportation or refusing them free entry into Lagos and free exit there from, as well as an order mandating the respondents to tender a written apology to them by publishing the apology in three national newspapers continuously for 30 days, from the date of the first publication, for unlawful and gross violation of their constitutional rights.
The deportees are also seeking a declaration of the court that their arrest and detention in various camps within Lagos state for no offence known to law and without trial and conviction by a court of competent jurisdiction, amounted to a serious breach of their rights as provided for in the relevant sections of the constitution.
The suit was brought as a motion on notice pursuant to Order 11, Rule 1&2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure Rules), 2009, Sections 34 (1) (A), 35, 40, 45 (1), 42 (1), 46 (1) and 6 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; Articles 5, 6 and 12 of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
They also sought an order of the court to declare that their deportation from Lagos State to Anambra State on July 24, amounted to a gross violation of their rights and a breach of the provisions of the 1999 constitution, as amended, adding that the court should mandate the first respondent to re-absorb and accommodate the applicants within Lagos State since they were Nigerian citizens and were entitled to reside in any part of the country including Lagos State.
Also, the applicants noted that the issue for determination is whether the action of the respondents in arresting, detaining and their subsequent deportation from Lagos to Onitsha, Anambra state was justified in law, in view of the supreme provisions of the 1999 constitution of Nigeria.
The hearing, which will be presided over by Justice Anumogobia, is set to begin on January 29, 2014.
U see all these greedy and ungrateful igbos,
ReplyDeleteU see all these greedy and ungrateful igbos,
ReplyDeleteLolz this is funny. Whoever dat is backing you for this shud desist. Live in peace and leave everytin to God
ReplyDeleteLolz this is funny. Whoever dat is backing you for this shud desist. Live in peace and leave everytin to God
ReplyDeleteIgbo's with dubious means of raising money and fast track money making biz using dailuted constitution as backup, what else do you want after Gov. Fashola apology all the atrocites commited by ur people we sue u. Think twice and stop sowing a seed of discord. Ay
ReplyDeletewallahi,these igbos r big dreamers.they r using this as an avenue to make fast money.confirm igbo man business man mentality.useless lot
ReplyDeleteWell, this is a twist the Lagos state government never forsaw. I have to say that in Nigeria, citizen rights are not guaranteed unless they themselves have the capacity to impose it. The deportation saga affected more Northerners than it did southerners yet the complain came from those who were least affected; perhaps because they are the most noisiest given their claim "we have all, we own all and we must control all". I make bold to say under the guise of uprooting terrorist, so many northerners with legitimate livelihoods were killed, dispossessed of their belongings, deported unceremoniously, or otherwise persecuted. But because they are peace loving individuals they never have to sue but beg for what is not a previledge but a right. The powerless has no one to turn to but God but where are the so called leaders of the north?
ReplyDeleteThis is what FFK is talking about, preached about and pple castigated him. Fashola must have seen his mistake by now, he's not supposed to apologise at all for that action doing so, he been perceived as weak and a coward!! So he better pay up! I don't blame the igbos.
ReplyDeleteMike.
we igbos,we love drama alot.These are unnecessary.This issue is dead and shld have bn forgotten.why raising it up again.we knw dt nothing will come out of these, then why d new ballyhoo.People like Oby Okwesilieze,Chukwuemeka Ezeife,Rochas Okorocha,Ngige,and many prominent lagos igbos have bn striving to ensure igbo-yoruba peace.i just dont understand what this group and their lawyers intend to achieve from this.They will soon backdown when they realise dt its an act in futility
ReplyDeleteFor a balance judgement from the Igbos, Ithink they should have sued the Northern States where the Bokoharams killed the igbos. I am actually very in support of this step taken now to sue the Lagos StateI but it would have been better if they have the got to sue the Bokoharam infested northern states where thousands of Igbo indigens blood were shed.
ReplyDeleteThey should have sued Abuja FCT as well when they carried out deportation of destitutes some years back.
But Fashola got it very wrong in the first place. He was the one that asked for court hearing of his action and when he realized the ethnic mess he did, started to beg. Are there no yoruba beggars in lagos or other parts of the country. He should have reported to their state government before embarking on such action that is capable of breaking the unity amongst us. May be he should feel the impact of what he did more beyond begging. Unity in diversity, that is strength, that is why Nigeria has remained one today. For those who make statements about the Ibos, they should simply eschew tribalism from their blood and grow. Cultism and ritual killing is limitless in yoruba land they also know
ReplyDeleteMaybe u did not follow the news!! The governments of that state Peter Obi was duly informed to evacuate d destitute(sorry to call them dt) bt he did nothing about it.
DeleteThat is a Frank statement. People should watch their utterances
ReplyDeleteOoh its now U̶̲̥̅̊ know dt pple shld watch their utterances?but wen d igbos were insulting FFK and d yorubas, were U̶̲̥̅̊ yet to have access to dis platform?
ReplyDeleteHonestly, after reading some comments from most guys, I couldn't help but feel bad that such uttrances are coming from those that think they are right. You guys problems are ignorance...as they say is a terminal disease. If people can challenge foreign countries, take them to courts to stop their deportation and often get compensated for unlawful treatment, how much more someone un his/her own country. Sentiment and tribalism aside, Fashola is a digrace and not fit for that exalted office. He should have known better as a Lawyer. The fact that someone did something similar and got away with does not mean it is right or normal. I don't really care wether the guys get the money or not but for the single fact that Fashola will have to go to court to explain and justify his actions is enough for me. Until Nigerians rise to challenge these political office holders, You lots will die and rot in that jungle called Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteVino - England.
U most be so stupid to make a comment like that. I wont be wrong to assume you mop the floor for 30 pounds a week. People like you are illiterate losers who go abroad to do dirty jobs and live like rats in tiny apartments.
DeleteThe truth is,we aren't ready to be and exist as one Nation,but bitter enough,we don't want to accept it.Just divide this country and all will be settlled.
ReplyDelete