The Lagos State government has been dragged to court.
A suit filed before a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos is seeking to disband the judicial panel of inquiry and restitution for victims of SARS.
Filed by Adekunle Augustine and Semion Akogwu, the duo asked the court to disband the panel on the ground that the Lagos State governor, being a party in the matter, did not exercise his power in the public interest by setting up the panel.
The petitioners asked the court to make a declaration that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu cannot set up a panel in an investigation he is a party to.
The plaintiffs said Governor Sanwo-Olu cannot be the judge in his own case; alleging that the panel will be in favour of the governor and the state government in its decision.
The petitioners said they believe that whoever pays the piper dictates the tune of the music.
Other defendants include the chairman of the panel and the attorney general of the state. The chairman of the panel is listed as the second respondent in the case dated November 11 and filed at a Lagos federal high court with suit number FHC/L/CS/1572/20.
The plaintiffs, Augustine and Akogwu, in the suit, filed through their counsel, Samuel Adama, seek the determination of the following questions: “Whether having regards to section 5(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), exhibits A and exhibit B, the first defendant validly exercised his powers in the public interest by setting up the third defendant to investigate a matter in which the first defendant himself is a party?”
Upon the determination of the questions, the plaintiffs also prayed the court for the following reliefs: “A declaration that having regards to section 36(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) together with exhibits A and exhibit B, the second defendant being an agent/appointee of the first defendant cannot ensure a fair hearing for the plaintiffs under the auspices of the third defendant in a matter in which the first defendant is a party.”
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