Protesters under the auspices of the Women for Peace and Justice #BringBackOurGirls” yesterday dragged the Commissioner of Police FCT, John Mbu before the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, high court praying it to award N200m (Two Hundred million Naira) damages against him for violating their fundamental rights to protest.
The commissioner of Police FCT , John Mbu on Monday placed ban on Protest in Federal Capital Territory concerning the 200 Chibok secondary school girls that were abducted by Boko Haram sect since April.
Mbu had said while announcing the ban that “the trend(protest) is now posing a serious security threat to those living around and citizens who drive through. As the FCT Police boss, I cannot fold my hands and watch this lawlessness.”
The plaintiffs; Hadiza Bala Usman, Mr, Samuel Yaga, Mrs. Rebecca Yaga,Mrs. Sarah Ishaya and 13 others filed the suit for themselves and on behalf of other members of #BringBackOurGirls” campaigners through their counsel Femi Falana SAN who brought it under order 1. Rule 2. of the Fundamental Rights (enforcement procedure) rules 2009.
The plaintiffs prayed the court for a declaration that the decision of the Respondent banning protests and rallies in the Federal Capital Territory with effect from Monday , June 1, 2014 is illegal, unconstitutional,null and void as it violate the fundamental rights of the applicants to freedom of conscience,freedom of expression and freedom of assembly and association guaranteed by Sections 38,39 and 40 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Articles 8,10 and 11,of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Act.
A declaration that the Respondent is not competent to ban protests and rallies in the Federal Capital Territory in any manner whatsoever without an order issued by a competent court.
The plaintiffs further prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the police commissioner or agents from further preventing the applicants or aggrieved Nigerians from taking part in protests and rallies in exercise of their freedom of conscience, expression, assembly and association as guaranteed by the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
In a 25 paragraphs affidavit deposed to by Hadiza Bala Usman, she averred that #BringBackOurGirls” have for 31 days engaged in daily advocacy and campaign at the Unity Fountain on the plight of the over 200 school girls abducted from Chibok Secondary school,Borno State.
That on Monday, the 16th of May 2014 the members observed a large contingent of a new group of protesters arriving the unity fountainin over 30 Federal government SURE-P Buses.
That the new group in presence of police snatched phones and handbags of ladies in their group and attacked the local and international media.
