Four victims of botched Immigration recruitment exercise seek Moro's sack

After seven months that the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment exercise claimed several lives, four persons have prayed the Federal High Court, Abuja Division to sack the Minister of Interior, Abba Moro for his tacit complicity in the tragic exercise.

In an action filed by their counsel, Jubrin Okutepa (SAN), the four plaintiffs - Patience Omezie, Kasim Suleiman, Okojie Arabamen and Godwin Morka are praying the court to declare that Moro is 'not fit and proper person to hold public office in Nigeria having regard to his callous statement that Nigerians who died and those injured during the exercise were careless.'

Joined in the suit are the Federal Government, Attorney General of the Federation, NIS and its Comptroller, David Parradang.

The plaintiffs also want the court to declare that the defendants acted negligently and in total disregard to the sanctity of lives of over 520,000 Nigerians who were invited for job interview and or screening by NIS.

They also want the court to declare that the sum of N1,000 collected from all those who sought to be employed into NIS at the instance and or direction of the defendants is unlawful and contrary to the public service rules and regulations, adding that it constitutes a breach of constitutional and statutory duties of the defendants.

They also prayed for an order of court directing the defendants to account for and repay all Nigerians who applied for and paid to be employed into NIS as such payment is illegal, unconstitutional and contrary to public policy and good conscience.

The plaintiffs however asked for general damages of N10 million only.

In their statement of claims, the plaintiffs averred that the defendants were negligent in the mode and manner the recruitment exercise was conducted.

Stating the particulars of negligence, the plaintiffs submitted that having conducted such recruitment exercise in the past, the defendants were fully aware that the number of applicants at each venue would be in excess of 20,000 and accordingly had arranged that the aptitude tests would be conducted at stadia in the various capital cities.

They added that inspire of this knowledge, the defendants made no adequate arrangement to ensure the orderly accreditation of candidates and so delayed admission into examination venues between three and seven hours, resulting in the frustration of the plaintiffs waiting to be tested.

The plaintiffs further alleged that in spite of the knowledge of the large number of applicants, the defendants restricted access into the venues to only one entrance, without providing adequate crowd control, resulting in a stampede.

They further submitted that the defendants did not make any provision for comfortable conduct of the aptitude tests by candidates, and the distribution of materials as result of which candidates had to scramble to receive the aptitude tests and then write the tests while sitting on the ground, resulting in many being injured in the ensuing stampede.

They further stated that defendants failed to arrange for emergency medical relief and evacuation of wounded applicants resulting in death of some of the applicants.