By SUNNY OKIM

A renowned Lagos based human rights lawyer, Joe Nwokedi Esq, has moved in defence of the embattled promoters of #EndSARS by slamming a N50 billion law suit against the federal government and its agents.

In what looks like the biggest lawsuit in recent times, the fire brand lawyer on Tuesday filed the suit at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos seeking a judicial pronouncement over the activities of some state actors and their agencies over the issue of the #EndSARS protests which took place across the country in October and during which time many protesters were reportedly shot dead, some injured by soldiers.

Nwokedi is suing the Federal Government of Nigeria, Central Bank of Nigeria Governor, Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Minister of Information Lai Mohammed and 17 others for human right abuses and molestation of Nigerians during and after the #EndSARS protests.

Speaking with News Express Tuesday evening after filing the law suit, Nwokedi said:

“I decided to take the matter to court, so the court would address the issue and make a judicial pronouncement on certain actions of the respondents which I consider a violation of my right as the applicant and a citizen of Nigeria, as well as other citizens of Nigeria that their inalienable fundamental rights were violated and trampled upon by the state actors and their agents.”

In the said suit, the human rights lawyer specifically seeks a declamatory order of the court to restrain the federal government and the other respondents to cease henceforth from tormenting, harassing, brutalizing, killing, threatening, freezing the bank accounts, banning of protests, unlawful arrests, detentions and malicious prosecution of Nigerians, etc over their participation in the #EndSARS protests amongst numerous others, as they amount to a gross violation and an infringement of the fundamental rights of the people of Nigeria as clearly and unambiguously encapsulated in Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Nwokedi is also seeking an order of a perpetual injunction by the court, restraining the respondents either by themselves, their agents, privies, servants, representatives from further harassing, banning, threatening, molesting or infringing on the rights of Nigerians to a peaceful protest.

“I am therefore asking the court to award the cost of 50 billion Naira, as exemplary, aggravated and general damages against the respondents for their illegalities, harassments, intimidations, killings, violation of the rights of Nigerians, gagging of free speech, unlawful freezing of accounts, malicious arrests, detentions and prosecutions, molestations and other illegalities, inclusive of mental torture and emotional trauma suffered by himself and other citizens of Nigeria as a result of the action of the respondents, her privies, representatives, agents and servants,” he further stated.

The hearing of the suit, according to Nwokedi, shall commence on a sooner date.

Other respondents in the matter are:

1. Attorney General of the Federation

2. Inspector General of Police (IGP)

3. Nigerian Armed Forces

4. Chief of Army Staff

5. Mr. Adamu Garba

6. Lagos State Government

7. Attorney General of Lagos State

8. Imo State Government

9. Attorney General of Imo State

10. Rivers State Government

11. Attorney General of Rivers State

12. Plateau State Government

13. Attorney General of Plateau State

14. Lagos State Commissioner of Police

15. National Assembly

16. Nigerian Broadcasting Commission

17. Nigerian Television Authority