Abuja – The Community Court of Justice (ECOWAS Court) has adjourned till May 10, a case filed by the Registered Trustees of Jama’a Foundation and five others against the Federal Government.
The case, which was brought before the court on Jan. 16, 2014, is seeking N105 billion in compensatory damages.
The suit stated that the damages sought were over the death of 800 people and the displacement of 60,000 others in the 2011 post-election violence.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Ms Zainab Bello, prayed the court to grant an adjournment to enable them acquire the necessary documents.
“We have not been able to file amendments to our pleading because we have not been able to access documents we required.
“Our clients are mostly in IDP camps and getting information has been herculean; on this note we ask the court to grant us another adjournment,” she said.
However, counsel to the defendant, Mr Matthew Echo, did not oppose the opinion for the adjournment.
Justice Chijioke Nwoke, who presided over the case, pointed out that the application had “become a recurring decimal”.
“The case was already filed before the death of the previous counsel and there was no question of amendment.
“You are presenting the application for amendment; this is likely to be the last adjournment.
“The matter will be adjourned to May 10 and will be the last at the instant of the applicant,” he said.
The applicants in the suit are asking the court to declare that the federal government failed to protect lives and property in the course of the 2011 presidential election.
Government’s failure, the applicants insist, is a violation of their rights as provided for in the relevant treaties and conventions.
The organisation is also contending that the deaths, destruction and displacement which affected some of its members constituted a sustained violation of their rights to life and respect for human dignity.
They also argued that their right to equal protection under the law, and other economic and social rights had also been violated during the period.
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The plaintiffs are also asking the court to direct the defendants to implement the recommendations of the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu investigative panel set up by the Nigerian government in the wake of crises. (NAN)