FCT Minister Faces Legal Action as Scavengers, Beggars Demands N500m

• The lawsuit was filed against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike
• The plaintiffs contend that the ban has resulted in arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, and extortion, arguing that their rights to dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of movement have been violated
• The lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks N500 million in damages for alleged breaches of their fundamental rights

In response to the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s recent ban on street begging and scavenging in Abuja, a group of affected individuals, including scavengers and beggars, has filed a lawsuit against FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Eko Hot Blog gathered that the lawsuit filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeks N500 million in damages for alleged breaches of their fundamental rights.

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The plaintiffs contend that the ban has resulted in arbitrary arrests, illegal detentions, and extortion, arguing that their rights to dignity, personal liberty, and freedom of movement have been violated.

This followed the FCT Minister  ban on street begging in the city, which has sparked controversy and criticism from human rights advocates.

Besides the street begging ban, the Federal Capital Territory Administration had also banned scavenging in the city centre.

In the suit marked:

FHC/ABJ/CS/1749/3024, the lawyer to the plaintiffs, Abba Hikima, on behalf of the vulnerable residents in the originating motion dated Nov. 19, 2024, but filed Nov. 20, 2024, said he was suing in the public interest for the protection of vulnerable Nigerians.

Listed as first to fourth respondents defendant in the originating motion are Wike; inspector-general of police; director-general, State Security Services; and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC)

In the case filed before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the lawyer also joined the attorney-general of the federation and the Federal Government of Nigeria as the fifth and sixth respondents, respectively.

The plaintiffs’ lawyer is seeking a court order to compensate the affected citizens with N500 million in damages, citing the government’s alleged infringement on their fundamental rights.

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The lawyer argued that the way homeless people, scavengers, petty traders, beggars, and other vulnerable Nigerians in the FCT were being treated was a clear violation of their fundamental rights.

He claimed that arresting them without a reason, detaining them without charges, and harassing them violated their rights.

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