Hausa/Fulani traders from Alaba Rago market have taken the Lagos state government to federal supreme court over alleged discrimination and an eviction order issued to them.
The two state commissioners; Inspector General of Police; The commander, the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos State Special and Environmental Crimes Unit (Task Force) also joined the lawsuit as defendants.
The traders are seeking N50 million in damages from the defendants for allegedly discriminating against Hausa/Fulani traders.
The Lagos State Government has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the squatters and traders of Alaba Rago through a joint Rapid Response Squad and Lagos Taskforce team to evacuate the market.
According to source, the suit was filed against the respondents by the leaders of the traders, who are listed as applicants.
They are Alhaji HusaiiI Lajawa, Alhaji Hamisu Mansur, Alhaji Muhammed Aminu and Pastor J.T. Assan.
Among the reliefs sought by the applicants are, “A declaration that the removal of notice pasted only on the applicants at the market, who are Nigerian of the Hausa/Fulani extraction on the basis of their tribe while none was served on the Igbo and Yoruba who occupy Alaba International Market and Tanzan Market respectfully is discriminatory and a breach of the Applicant’s fundamental right as guaranteed by Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
“A declaration that the removal of notice pasted on the applicant’s properties at Alaba Rago Market without following due process is unlawful and a breach of the Applicant’s right to properties as guaranteed by Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”
The applicants through their counsel, O.K. Salawu and S.A. Salaudeen, are also asking the court for a declaration that the removal of a notice pasted on the property of the applicants, who are Nigerians of the Hausa/Fulani extraction, is unjustifiable.
They said the action denied the Applicants their means of livelihood and was in breach of the Applicants’ fundamental right to life as provided and guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
They also sought an order of injunction restraining the respondents from removing the applicants from their market at Alaba Rago Market, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State without giving them an alternative.
“An Order of injunction restraining the respondent from demolishing the Alaba Rago Market where the applicants carry on their business and validly allocated to them by the respondents,” it said.
The applicants’ suit is supported by a 22-paragraph affidavit, and according to their counsel, O.K. Salawu and S.A. Salaudeen, it has been served on all the respondents.
But no date has been fixed by the court to hear the suit.
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