76 Onitsha deportees sue Lagos State for ₦1 Billion

The destitute recently deported by the Lagos state government, to Onitsha, Anambra state, have dragged the Lagos government to a federal High Court, demanding ₦1 billion in compensation for the violation of their rights.

The 76 deportees are asking the court to declare that their arrest and detention in various camps within Lagos state without being charged for any offence or convicted by a court, amounted to a serious breach of rights, as provided for in the constitution.

The applicants equally asked the court to perpetually bar the Lagos government, their agents, privies, subordinates, workers and officers, howsoever called, from further deporting, or refusing them free entry into Lagos and free exit, as well.

They also demand a written apology by Lagos, published in Thisday, Vanguard and Daily Sun newspapers continuously for 30 days, from the date of the first publication, for unlawful and gross violation of their constitutional rights.

The suit was filed by seven of the deportees on behalf of themselves and 69 others.

The applicants’ lawyer, Ugo Ugwunnadi, is asking the court to declare that as Nigerians the deportees 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.

They are asking the court to order the Lagos State Government to re-absorb and accommodate them within the state.

The detainees are asking the Lagos State government to pay them a compensation of ₦1 billion.

Hearing on the suit has been set for January 29, 2014.