Family drags FG to ECOWAS court over property demolition

According to The Nation, the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS has adjourned till May 2, a case of human rights violation following the demolition of his property filed by Chief Damian Onwuham and 22 others against the Federal Government.

Also joined in the case is the Imo State Government.

Onwuham alleged that his rights and that of 22 other members of his family were violated following the demolition of his property worth more than N100 million by the Imo State Government.

The demolition was allegedly carried out by “armed men’’ from the Imo State Security Network on April 12, 2014.

The applicant claimed that the property was demolished on “the excuse that the applicant’s son is a suspected kidnapper’’.

He also alleged that the son, Obinna Onwuham, was arrested by security men as a suspect in a kidnap case on Dec. 19, 2012 and had not been charged to any court for trial.

He claimed that the action of the defendant had made him and members of his family destitute and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) without cause.

The court on Wednesday dismissed the preliminary objection of the defendant and ruled that it had the jurisdiction to hear the case since it bordered on human rights violations.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Friday Nwoke also ruled that the Federal Government was a proper party to the case because it was responsible for the behavior of its organs.

He further adjourned the case for definite hearing.

The applicant sought, among others, a declaration that the acts of the defendants constitute a trespass and N50 million as an order for general damages for trespass.

The applicant also sought an order of N100 million for special damages being the total cost of building three new houses of the same or similar attributes, including household items.

He also sought an order of N500 million for exemplary damages.

Source: The Nation