Some Hausa/Fulani traders at Alaba Rago Market in Lagos have dragged the state government before the Federal High Court over the eviction notice issued to them to vacate the market by the state.
The traders were also demanding the sum of N50 million as damages from the Lagos State government for alleged discrimination and breach of their rights.
Other respondents in the suit are: the Inspector General of Police, the Commander, the Lagos Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Task Force).
Listed as applicants are Alhaji HusaiiI Muhammed Lajawa, Alhaji Hamisu Mansur, Alhaji Muhammed Aminu and Pastor J.T. Assan.
They are asking the court for a declaration that the removal notice was pasted only on the applicants at the market, who are Nigerian of the Hausa/Fulani extraction based on their tribe while none was served on the Igbo and Yoruba who occupy Alaba International Market and Tanzan Market respectively.
According to them, it is discriminatory and a breach of their fundamental right as guaranteed by Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.
The applicants are also urging the court to declare that the removal notice pasted on their 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, amended.
The court is yet to fix a date for the hearing of the suit.
