Senior member of the Bar and former Minister of Education and Youth Development, Prof. Ben Nwabueze, alongside 43 distinguished Nigerians, who were tear-gassed by the police in Lagos during the fuel subsidy protest, have dragged the Federal Government before the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, asking for N440 million as damages for violating their fundamental rights.
In a suit file by their lawyer, Mr Festus Keyamo, the Applicants are praying for a declaration that the alleged use of tear-gas and live ammunition to disperse and stop them from staging a peaceful protest by security agents on January 19 this year is illegal, oppressive, and null and void and urged the court to make an order compelling the respondents to tender written, unreserved apology to each of them.
Respondents in the fundamental rights enforcement application were the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector General of Police, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.
The applicants are contending that the action violates their fundamental rights as enshrined in Sections 34, 35, 38, 40, and 41 of the 1999 Constitution and prayed for an order compelling the respondents to pay N10 million to each of them for allegedly infringing on their fundamental rights.
They averred in their suit that, on the morning of January 16, 2012, residents of Lagos including the applicants woke up to find soldiers and policemen deployed to the streets of Lagos State and were placed at strategic areas to prevent residents from assembling at their various rally points.
Other applicants in the suit were Dr Frederick Fasehun, Olawale Okunniyi, Nike Ransome-Kuti, Ganiyat Fawehinmi and Mohammed Fawehinmi, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, Mr. Osita Okechukwu, Shehu Sanni, Kate Henshaw, Collins Eselemo, Prof Akin Oyebode, Seun Kuti, Dr Tunji Abayomi, Baba Omojola, Sheik Abdurahman Ahmad, Dr Lakin Akintola, Mr Giwa Amu, Dr. Wale Balogun, Mrs Funmi Iyanda, Yemi Adamolekun, Amara Blessing Nwosu, Engr. Ife Oyedele, Mr. Kola Oyeneyin, Mr. Diekola Onaolapo and one Alhaja Irawo.
Also were Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, Femi Falana, Senator Gbenga Oguniya, Mr. Nelson Ekujumi, Alhaji Balarabe Musa, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, Prof Pat Utomi, Dr. Dipo Fashina, Prof. Anthony Kila, Mr. Kunle Oladejo, Mr. Sola Alao, Mr. Wale Ogunade Alhaji Yemisi Coker, A. Olusegun Obasanjo, Mr. Segun Fatoki, Mr. Akintoye Branko-Rhodes, Mr Achike Chude, and Mrs Pamela Braide.
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