The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project said the ECOWAS Court has entered judgment in favour of some residents of Bundu Ama, Port Harcourt, who were brutalised by security forces while protesting the demolition of their settlement by the government in 2009.

According to SERAP, following the judgment of the ECOWAS Court, the Federal Government of Nigeria had paid the victims N6.5m as compensation.

The plaintiffs – Israel Okari, Joy Williams, Austin Onwe, Tamno Ama, Victor Opium, Mark Bomowe, Napoleon Tokubiye, Napoleon Tokubiye, Jonathan Bokoko, Williams Tamuno and Linus John, had with the support of SERAP instituted the suit, numbered ECW/CCJ/APP/10/10, against the government.

The plaintiffs, who were represented by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), had joined as respondents in the suit the Attorney General of the Federation and former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

Also joined as respondents were the Rivers State Commissioner for Justice and the state Commissioner for Urban Development.

They had, in their statement of claims, averred that armed security forces on October 12,2009 “opened fire on unarmed protesters in Bundu Ama, an informal settlement in Port Harcourt, leaving at least one person dead and 12 seriously injured.”

The plaintiffs also accused the Rivers State Government of aiding “the Federal Government’s planned large-scale demolitions of the city’s waterfront settlements, home to at least 200,000 people.”

They further claimed, “The planned large-scale demotions were developed without adequate consultation with affected communities.

“Njemanze waterfront, a community close to Bundu Ama, was demolished in August 2009 and estimated number of between 13,800 and 19,000 people were forcibly evicted from their homes. Thousands of people, including children, women and the elderly were left homeless and vulnerable to other human rights violations.”

Culled from Punch.

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Sai Saraki

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