Children of the late Kudirat Abiola have sued the Buhari administration to the ECOWAS Court of Justice in Abuja over the killing of their mother.
Mrs Abiola was assassinated on June 4, 1996 while her husband Moshood Abiola was being detained by the military government under the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
Khafila Abiola, Moriam Abiola, and Hadi Abiola filed on suit on Tuesday for themselves and on behalf of the other children of Kudirat.
In the suit number ECW/CCJ/APP/62/2022 filed on their behalf by their counsel Femi Falana, the children are challenging the “violation of the fundamental human rights to life and dignity of human person of the late Mrs Abiola.”
The plaintiffs are arguing inter alia that, “the failure or refusal of the Defendant to protect the life of Late Alhaja Kudirat Abiola in the Republic of Nigeria amounts to a violation of Articles 1,4,5,18 and 23 of the African Charter.”
According to the plaintiffs, “The combined effect of the said provisions of the African Charter and the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria is that states will be held responsible if they fail to act with due diligence to prevent violations of the rights or actively involved act which amount to the violation of the plaintiff right (as in this case), and for providing adequate compensation.”
The plaintiffs are therefore asking the Community Court of Justice for the following reliefs:
“A DECLARATION that the killing of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola by the armed agents of the defendant in Lagos on June 4, 1996 is a violation of her rights to life and dignity guaranteed by articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and articles.
“A DECLARATION that the refusal of the defendant to charge Sergeant Barnabas Jebila (a.k.a. Rogers) Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a Katako) and Aminu Mohammed Sergeant Barnabas Jebila with murder for the brutal killing of Mrs. Kudirat Abiola in Lagos on June 4, 1996 is a violation of her rights to life and dignity guaranteed by articles 4 and 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and articles.
“AN ORDER directing the defendant to charge Sergeant Barnabas Jebila (a.k.a. Rogers) Mohammed Abdul (a.k.a Katako) and Aminu Mohammed with murder for the brutal killing of Mrs Kudirat Abiola in Lagos on June 4, 1996.
“AN ORDER directing the defendant to pay the sum of $10 million to the Applicants as compensation for the unlawful killing of Alhaja Kudirat Abiola.”
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.
