FG sued over invasion of pro-Biafra protests

A legal activist, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adeg­boruwa, has sued the Federal Government over the invasion and disruption of an assembly and protests by pro-Biafra agitators.

In a suit he filed at the Federal High Court, La­gos, Adegboruwa urged the court to restrain the govern­ment through its security agencies from invading the peaceful gathering of pro- Biafra protesters in any part of the country.

The respondents in the suit are the Attorney-Gener­al of the Federation (AGF), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the Chief of Army Staff, the Chief of Na­val Staff and the Chief of Air Staff.

In the suit, Adegboruwa argued that all Nigerian citizens are granted the right of peaceful assembly and association under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and also the freedom of expression, under Section 39 of the same constitution.

He contended that mem­bers of the Indigenous Peo­ples of Biafra (IPOB) were entitled to peaceful assem­bly in any part of the coun­try, for the purpose of de­manding self-determination.

Adegboruwa prayed the court to affirm the rights of citizens to express them­selves on any area of griev­ance, without let or hin­drance from the security agencies.

In the suit, No. FHC/L/CS/775/2016, the lawyer sought the following reliefs:

“A declaration that the applicant and all other citi­zens of Nigeria are entitled to assemble freely and express their opinions lawfully in the exercise of their fundamen­tal rights.

“A declaration that the arrest and detention of un­armed citizens of Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, and Eb­onyi States on May 30, 2016 while gathering to commem­orate the Biafran Heroes’ Day is a violation of their rights.

“A declaration that the statutory duties of the re­spondents do not extend to interrupting peaceful and lawful assemblies willingly organised by the citizens.

“A declaration that the in­vestigative activities by the respondents into the peace­ful assembly in honour of Bi­afra heroes, was unconstitu­tional, null and void.”

He further sought an in­junction, restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, or their agents, officers or otherwise, from further violating the funda­mental rights of the citizens through unlawful arrest.

According to him, the court should make an order directing the respondents to release all citizens detained in respect of International Biafra Heroes’ Remembrance Day, and for such other or­ders as the court may deem fit to make in the circum­stances.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.