101 Boko Haram suspects sue Fed Govt for N303m

Some suspected Boko Haram insurgents have urged the Federal High
Court in Lagos to declare their detention for 12 years without
trial as illegal and unconstitutional.

Through their lawyer Mr Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem of the Prisoners’
Rights Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), they are praying for an order
directing their unconditional release forthwith.

They also seek an order of perpetual injunction restraining the
respondents from further interfering with their fundamental rights
in any manner.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of
Police, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the
Controller-General of the Correctional Service are the
respondents.

The applicants seek an order directing the Federal Government to
pay them N303million as compensation for their unlawful and
unconstitutional arrest and detention.

PRAI filed the fundamental rights enforcement suit on the
suspects’ behalf.

It argues that their being in custody since July 2009 was
illegal.

The suspects were moved to Lagos in March 2011 and are currently
detained at the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Custodial Centres
without trial.

They claimed they were denied access to their families and
lawyers.

In the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/166/2021, PRAI is praying for a
declaration that their arrest and continued detention for 11 years
without proper arraignment and trial in a court of competent
jurisdiction is unlawful, unconstitutional and constitutes an
infringement/violation of their fundamental rights to freedom of
personal liberty and to be tried within a reasonable time.

The suit will be heard on Monday before Justice Mohammed
Liman.

Some suspected Boko Haram insurgents have urged the Federal High
Court in Lagos to declare their detention for 12 years without
trial as illegal and unconstitutional.

Through their lawyer Mr Ahmed Adetola-Kazeem of the Prisoners’
Rights Advocacy Initiative (PRAI), they are praying for an order
directing their unconditional release forthwith.

They also seek an order of perpetual injunction restraining the
respondents from further interfering with their fundamental rights
in any manner.

The Attorney-General of the Federation, the Inspector-General of
Police, the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the
Controller-General of the Correctional Service are the
respondents.

The applicants seek an order directing the Federal Government to
pay them N303million as compensation for their unlawful and
unconstitutional arrest and detention.

PRAI filed the fundamental rights enforcement suit on the
suspects’ behalf.

It argues that their being in custody since July 2009 was
illegal.

The suspects were moved to Lagos in March 2011 and are currently
detained at the Kirikiri Maximum and Medium Custodial Centres
without trial.

They claimed they were denied access to their families and
lawyers.

In the suit numbered FHC/L/CS/166/2021, PRAI is praying for a
declaration that their arrest and continued detention for 11 years
without proper arraignment and trial in a court of competent
jurisdiction is unlawful, unconstitutional and constitutes an
infringement/violation of their fundamental rights to freedom of
personal liberty and to be tried within a reasonable time.

The suit will be heard on Monday before Justice Mohammed
Liman.