The lingering crisis between a group of 22 documented ex-militants and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Amnesty; Mr Kingsley Kuku took a twisted dimension yesterday as the former agitators sued the Federal Government , the Special Adviser and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State at the Abuja High Court for the sum of N 500million .
The suit which was filed at the Abuja High Court on behalf of Mr Andrew Joel Azazi; the leader of the ex-militants by their counsel Emeka Uchegbulam and Co(Univoice Chamber) noted that the suit is to cover for the hardship and frustration suffered by the applicants as a result of the discrimination, abandonment and neglect by the respondents.
The originating motion brought by Andrew Joel Azazi and his group read ‘An order that the prior, present and further refusal to pay monthly stipend to the Applicants and members of his group after they have been discarded like every other ex-militant who had undergone training in their respective camps is discriminating, unconstitutional and a violation of their fundamental human rights’“An order restraining the respondents from carrying out further acts of discrimination against the applicants’
In addition, the order also mandated the respondents to commence payment of stipends to the applicants and their members like other ex-Niger Delta militants and to pay same the arrears of their stipends from the date of their respective disarmament till the date judgment is delivered while mandating the respondents to commence training of the applicants and their members on education and skill acquisition like other ex-Niger Delta militants.
Mr Andrew Joel Azazi was the leader of the Bakassi Freedom Movement, camped in Akwa Ibom and led a 558 member group in his camp. The other leaders of th group of 22 documented ex-militants are Mr Gift Tare who operated in Azagbene, Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State; Mr Marcus Ayayebe operated in Otobo Camp, Kpakiama Delta State, Mr Bobra Angese operated Akpolokia Camp Otungbo, Bayelsa State and Mr Kerebi Ombe operated in Aya Koroma town Origbere Delta State.
It would be recalled that the association of 22 documented ex Niger delta militant leaders had early called on President Good luck Jonathan to sack his special adviser on the Niger delta, Mr Kingsley kuku accusing him of denying them of their amnesty entitlement.
The ex agitators had in the same vein, alleged that Mr. Kingsley kuku was harassing and threatening their lives over the letter they wrote to Mr. president over their matter.
Also, they insisted that the misappropriation going on in the amnesty office is the singular reason the special adviser could not defend the 2012 budget of the amnesty programme.It would be recalled that the house of representative committee on Niger delta had on Wednesday declared that Mr. kuku could not defend how the 2012 budget for the amnesty programme was utilized.