Court adjourns hearing on alleged deportation of Igbo from Lagos

Court in Lagos on Friday adjourned hearing in a suit filed by seven Igbo deportees challenging alleged breach of their fundamental rights to October 15.

The plaintiffs are Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Nnenna Ogbonna, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu.

They sued the Lagos State government on behalf of 76 others for infringing on their fundamental rights.

The plaintiffs filed the suit through their lawyer, Mr Ugo Ugwunnadi.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the case could not be heard at the resumed date due to a notice of preliminary objection filed by the Attorney-General of Lagos State.

The objection was dated June 17 and served on counsel to the plaintiffs in court.

Since the application was not yet ripe for hearing, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajjumogoia fixed October 15 for mention.

The judge also ordered hearing notices to be issued to the police before the next adjourned date.

In their motion, the applicants want the court to declare that they, as Nigerian citizens, are entitled to their fundamental rights as enshrined in the constitution.

They are seeking a declaration that their arrest and detention in various camps in Lagos in July 2013, and their subsequent deportation to Anambra State on July 24, 2013, amounted to serious breach of their rights.

The deportees are also seeking an order mandating the respondents to tender a written apology to them by publishing same in three national newspapers continuously for 30 days for gross violation of their constitutional rights.

They also want an order directing the Lagos State government to re-integrate them into the state as well as perpetual injunction restraining the respondents, their agents, and officers from further deporting or refusing them free entry into Lagos. NAN