Lawyer Sues Buhari, Malami, IG, others for Alleged Violation of Freedom of Movement, Expression
A Human Rights Lawyer, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo, has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, over an alleged violation of fundamental human rights of some Nigerian citizens.
The Lawyer, who sued for himself and on behalf of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch and the Nigerian public, is asking the court to declare that it is undemocratic, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional, for the Inspector General of Police and Lagos State Commissioner of Police and agents, to prevent Ikeja NBA members and others from carrying on their planned peaceful protest on Thursday, March 29, 2018, by laying siege on the Body’s Secretariat within the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja Judicial Division Premises on Wednesday, the day before.
Joined as Respondent in the suit, is the Lagos State Commissioner of Police.
According to the Applicant, who is also a member of NBA Ikeja Branch, the facts of the case are that, the Lagos State Government on 12/3/2018 reviewed her Land Use Charge by 200%, in the face of economic hardship and the biting effects of the recession of the Nigerian economy. The said review, led a large section of the Nigerian populace particularly Lagosians, the Organised Private Sector, Residents, Land Lords, Opposition Political Parties, Business and Professional Associations, to oppose it. At the vanguard of the opposition to the new rate, is the Nigerian Bar Association, Ikeja Branch and civil society groups.
He explained that NBA, Ikeja Branch, scheduled to stage a peaceful protest against the Lagos State Government’s reviewed Land Use Charge on March 29, 2018, but unfortunately on March 28, a day before the planned protest, over 50 heavily armed Policemen laid siege on the NBA Ikeja Branch Secretariat, in a bid to arrest officials of the body so as to frustrate and stop the protest.
The Lawyer said Lagos State Commissioner of Police (4th Respondent), issued a press statement to the public, categorically warning the Public that the Police will not tolerate any group or persons to protest in Lagos State and its environs, between March 29 to 30, because President Buhari (1st Respondent) would be on a two-day official visit to the State, alleging that the NBA Ikeja Branch, is being used by some disgruntled Politicians.
“The 4th Respondent threatened to arrest anyone who ventured to come out to stage a protest in Lagos, during the 1st Respondent’s visit. The 4th Respondent threatened to charge anyone who dares to come out to stage protest in Lagos during the 1st Respondent’s visit to court, with very severe offences. The 4th Respondent advised parents to caution their wards, against being