The 76 destitute individuals who were deported to Anambra in July by the Fashola government have filed a N1 billion lawsuit against Lagos at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Named as applicants in the suit are seven of the deportees Nnenna Ogbonna, Joseph Aniebonam, Osondu Mbuto, Osondu Agwu, Emily Okoroariri, Friday Ndukwe and Onyeka Ugwu, on behalf of the 76 others.
The Attorney-General of Lagos State and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State are named as the respondents
Lawyer to the applicants Ugo Ugwunnadi has asked the court to rule that they are Nigerians and are entitled to fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution under Sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 40, 41 and 42.
The applicants are also asking for a perprtual injunction restraining the Lagos Government or its agents from further deporting them or refusing them free entry in or outside Lagos.
They also demand Lagos government tender a written apology to them by publishing the apology in three national newspapers continuously for 30 days, from the date of the first publication, for unlawful and gross violation of their constitutional rights.
The suit was brought as a motion on notice pursuant to Order 11, Rule 1&2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure Rules), 2009, Sections 34 (1) (A), 35, 40, 45 (1), 42 (1), 46 (1) and 6 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended; Articles 5, 6 and 12 of African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.
The hearing, to be presided over by Justice Anumogobia, is set to begin on January 29, 2014.