BY INNOCENT ANABA

LAGOS — A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, yesterday, adjourned till February 19, 2014 for hearing in the suit  by seven Igbo deportees, against the Lagos State government, over inhuman treatment.

The applicants are claiming the sum of N1 billion against the respondents jointly and severally, as general damages for breach of their rights.

The plaintiffs

The plaintiffs are: Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Nnenna Ogbonna, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu, suing on behalf of 76 others, while respondents are the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

At the resumed hearing in the matter, yesterday, counsel to the plaintiffs, Chief Ugo Ugwunnadi, told the court that the case was coming up for the first time, informing that he had only been served with the processes from  Attorney General of Lagos, and was yet to receive any process from the second respondent.

He applied for a date for hearing.

Counsel to the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Tayo Odupitan, in reply, said that he had filed a counter-affidavit, written address and an exhibit, all in response to the plaintiffs’ suit.

He informed the court that the A-G of Lagos State, Mr. Ade Ipaye, had indicated his intention to defend the suit personally.

Meanwhile, counsel to the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Sam Adebeshin, told the court that he was yet to regularise the processes on behalf of the second respondent.

Trial judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia adjourned the case till February 19 for continuation of hearing.

The plaintiffs are praying the court to declare that their arrest and detention in various camps in Lagos and subsequent deportation to Anambra State on July 24, 2013, for no offence, amounted to a serious breach of their fundamental rights.

Deportees also demand written apology

The deportees also want the court to mandate the respondents to tender a written apology to them by publishing same in three national newspapers continuously for 30 days, for unlawful and gross violation of their constitutional rights.

They also want an order, directing the Lagos State Government to re-integrate them into Lagos State, and perpetually restrain the respondents, their agents, and officers from further deporting or refusing them free entry into Lagos State.

Lagos governent

Meanwhile the Lagos State Government in its counter-affidavit, contended that the deportation was not borne out of malice, but out of genuine intention to re-unite the applicants with their families, averring that the applicants were assisted by the government, to re-join their families, after pleading that they had no homes, relatives or businesses in Lagos State.