Northern traders slam N50m suit on Lagos, others over Alaba Rago eviction notice, allege discrimination

Lagos State government, two commissioners and the Inspector General of Police have been dragged before the Federal High Court, Lagos, over the eviction notice issued to the Hausa/Fulani traders at Alaba Rago Market.

The traders in the suit, which also has the Commander, Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force) as respondents, are claiming N50 millions as damages from the respondents for allegedly discriminating them as Hausa/Fulani.

The suit was instituted against the respondents by the traders’ leaders.

Listed as applicants are; Alhaji HusaiiI Muhammed Lajawa, Alhaji Hamisu Mansur, Alhaji  Muhammed Aminu and Pastor J.T. Assan.

Among the reliefs which the applicants were seeking for before the court are; “A declaration that the removal 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 occupies 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 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.

“A declaration that the removal notice pasted on the applicants property at the market who are Nigerian of the Hausa/Fulani extraction without any justifiable reason and thereby denying the Applicants of their means of livelihood and in breach of the Applicants Fundamental Right to life as provided and guaranteed under Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“An Order of Injuction restraining the respondents from removing the applicants from their market at Alaba Rago, Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State without any alternative.

“An Order of injunction restraining the respondent from demolishing the Alaba Rago Market where the applicants carries on their business and validly allocated to them by the respondents”.

The applicants’ suit were supported with 22 paragraph affidavit, and according to their counsel, O.K. Salawu and S.A. Salaudeen it has been served on all the respondents.

No date has been fix by the court for hearing of the suit.