150 pro-Biafran supporters drag Buhari to court
The plaintiffs, in the rights fundamental human rights enforcement suit, also joined International Non-governmental organisation, Kingdom Human Right Foundation
International as plaintiffs.
The plaintiffs in the suit for themselves and on behalf
of people that were killed and those injured during recent pro-Biafra rallies
in the South East and South South parts of the country, including eight of the deceased persons were also listed as applicants in the suit.
Other respondents
in the matter are the Attorney General of
the Federation, the National Assembly, the Chief of Army Staff, the Inspector
General of Police, Commissioners of Police in Imo, Anambra, Abia, Enugu,
Ebonyi, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers State Commands, Commandant General of Nigeria
Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Director General of the Department of State Security, DSS.
The applicants are praying the court to enforce their
fundamental rights to life, freedom of association, freedom to self
determination, freedom of opinion and expression, right to personal liberty and
freedom of movement and right to be given fair hearing, as guaranteed in
sections 33, 34(1)(a), 35(1)(4)&(5), 36, 39, 40, 42(1) and (2) of the 1999
Constitution, as amended, and Articles I, IV, XIX and XX of the African Charter
on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act and Articles 2,
3, 15 and 28 of the International Bill of Rights.
They want the court to order payment of damages to families
of the deceased members of the IPOB who were shot dead, and those who sustained
gunshot and grievously injured by a combined team of the Nigeria Army, the
Nigerian Police and other security agencies on October 20 and December 2 at
Onitsha, Anambra State, and in Owerri, Imo state, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Rivers and
Delta States respectively.
As well as the unconditional release of detained members of
the IPOB who are in detention in both prison, police and Army custody.
The applicant's equally prayed the court to restrain the
respondents from further harassing the applicants "who are peacefully and
non-violently exercising their right to self determination, freedom of
association, and expression."
The case is yet to be assigned to a judge for hearing.
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