Posted by By OLA AGBAJE on
Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) has slammed a N10 million suit on Lagos State Governor, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu and two others over the restriction of movement in the state during the just concluded census.
Lagos lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN) has slammed a N10 million suit on Lagos State Governor, Ashiwaju Bola Tinubu and two others over the restriction of movement in the state during the just concluded census.
In the suit filed at a Lagos State High Court, sitting in Ikeja, Fawehinmi is demanding N10 million as compensation for losses he suffered and the infringement on his right to freedom during the headcount.
Others joined along with Tinubu as co-respondents in the suit are the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake and the Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of the State, Professor Yemi Osibajo (SAN).
Residents of the state were restricted from 8.00a.m to 4.00p.m between March 21 and 25, 2006 to ensure that every resident was counted.
However, Fawehinmi in his suit is contending that the restriction of movement on March 21, 22 and 23 2006 was a violation of his fundamental right to freedom of movement.
Consequently, the applicant is praying the court to declare the restriction of movement in the state imposed by the government on March 21, 22 and 23 2006 from 8.00a.m to 4.00p.m amount to the violation of his fundamental right to freedom of movement enshrined in section 41 of the 1999 Constitution and Article 12 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, Cap Ag Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The application is predicated on the ground that the restriction of movement during the census period prevented him from carrying on his business of law publishing, which has its headquarters at No 90 Lewis Street Lagos.
Also, the applicant brought the suit on the ground that the restriction of movement imposed by the respondents during census did not allow him to supervise the production of his law books at its headquarters at 9/11 Akinola Sholanke Street, Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos.
In the 14-paragraph affidavit attached to the suit deposed to by Fawehinmi, the applicant among others averred that he suffered incredible loss during the period, while the restriction of movement also prevented him from seeing his physician to attend to his health.