By Mohammed Kandi , with agency report
The Federal High Court, sitting in Enugu, is to hear a suit brought before it by the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) and a leader of Northern community in Enugu state, Alhaji Mohammed Lawan Ayagva, over an alleged imposition of identity cards on all northerners resident in the state.
The human rights organisation and the Hausa leader are praying the court, in the suit entitled: “Alhaji Mohammed Lawan Ayagva (Suing on behalf of himself and Northern Community resident in Enugu) & Civil Liberties Organisation Vs Attorney General of Enugu State” to declare that the collection of levies by the respondents from all citizens of Nigeria of Northern Nigeria extraction (both male and female) resident in Enugu, for the purpose of procurement of identity cards for them, constitutes a flagrant violation of the 1st applicants’ fundamental rights.
They claim that their rights are guaranteed under section 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Article 2, of the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement Act) Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and is therefore illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
They are equally praying for an order of perpetual injunction retraining the Respondents, whether by themselves, their agents or privies from further harassing, intimidating, trailing, scaring, arresting or detaining the 1st Applicants and the entire northern community resident in Enugu.
“Alhaji Hammed Garba (Special Adviser to the Governor of Enugu State on Inter-community matters & 4 others Suit No. FHC/EN/M/106/2014″ for a declaration that the act of the 1st and 2nd Respondents in making a policy which imposes the collection of identity cards only on the applicants and all citizens of Nigeria of Northern Nigeria extraction (both male and female) resident in Enugu rights.”
That it “constitutes a flagrant violation of the 1st applicants’ fundamental rights guaranteed under sections 41 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended) and Articles 2 & 12, of the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement Act) Cap. A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and is therefore illegal, unconstitutional, null and void” The suit, filed by the South-East Zonal Director of the CLO, Olu Omotayo, is also asking the court to direct and compel the respondents to refund all funds collected by way of levies for the procurement of identity cards for all citizens of Northern Nigeria extraction (both male and female) resident in Enugu.
The CLO, alleged in the suit that about N12.2 million have so far been collected from the northerners and urged the court to ask persons involved to refund the funds.
Omotayo is also asking for N50 billion as exemplary, punitive, aggravated, special and general damages against the respondents.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
