Lawyer Sues Nigerian Govt, Wike, Others Over Arbitrary Detention, Harassment, Extortion Of Beggars, Petty Traders, Others In Abuja

Ahuman rights lawyer, Abba Hikima, has dragged the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike and the Attorney General of the Federation to the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, over the “arbitrary arrest, detention without charges, harassment and extortion of homeless persons, scavengers, petty traders, beggars and other vulnerable Nigerians resident in Abuja”.

The 1st to 6th Respondents in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1749/2024, are Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory; Inspector General of Police; Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Attorney General of the Federation and Federal Government of Nigeria.

Hikima in the suit pleads for “a declaration that the arbitrary arrest, detention without charges, harassment and extortion of homeless persons, scavengers, petty traders, beggars and other vulnerable Nigerians resident in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, engaging in their lawful activity and without prima facie evidence of commission of any crime known to law by the Respondents constitute violation of the fundamental rights of these individuals as guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 41 and 42 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as altered);

“A declaration that the treatment of vulnerable citizens, including verbal harassment, physical threats, extortion, and detention without charge, constitutes inhumane and degrading treatment contrary to Section 34 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

“A declaration that Nigerians regardless of their economic status, place or birth or appearance, have the liberty to move freely in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja including the liberty to sleep on public roads without let, permission or hindrance whatsoever in accordance with the spirit and purpose of sections 35, 41 and 42 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).”

The lawyer is also seeking “an order compelling the Respondents to identify and release all individuals arrested and detained in line with the directive of the 1st Respondent directive dated the 22nd October, 2024 and to refund all sums of money extorted as bribes”.

Hikima also seeks “an order awarding the sum of N500,000,000 as general and exemplary damages for the violation of the fundamental rights of the affected citizens.

“An order directing the Respondents to issue a public apology to the affected individuals and Nigerian citizens at large for the inhumane, arbitrary and unconstitutional treatment meted on them pursuant to the directive of the 1st Respondent dated the 22nd October, 2024.

“An order mandating the Respondents to set in motion and implement immediate policies and reforms, including public education for the realization of the fundamental human rights of vulnerable Nigerians residing in Nigeria.

“An order as to the cost of this action.”

However, no date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

In October, Wike commenced the implementation of a ban on street begging in Abuja and issued a directive to security agencies to take beggars off the streets.

On October 28, 15 beggars and 19 scavengers were arrested across the nation’s capital.

The operations that had a combined force of the police, military, DSS, NSCDC, and other paramilitary agencies were deployed in four groups to different locations of the city centre, in search of beggars and “miscreants” who stay under bridges and in shanties and tunnels.