Leah Sharibu’s mother files N500m suit against IG, AGF

Rebecca Sharibu, the mother of Leah Sharibu, the only one out of the 110 Dapchi schoolgirls still in the captivity of Boko Haram, has sued the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, for N500 million over the continued holding of her daughter.

She is contending that both the IGP and the AGF have failed to perform their statutory responsibilities of protecting Nigerian citizens and enforcing law and order.

Apart from Rebecca Sharibu, others who joined in suing Idris and Malami are Daniel David Kadzai and Lift-Up-Now Incorporation, a Non Governmental Organization in the United States of America.

In the suit dated September 19, 2018, with no FCH/L/CS/1528/18, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, the plaintiffs are praying that the court directs and mandates the defendants to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Leah Sharibu from the custody of her captors, as well as an order compelling the defendants to employ every means in securing her release.

The plaintiffs also sought “an order compelling the defendants to pay the plaintiff the sum of N500 million being compensation for the indignities and human deprivations suffered by the plaintiff as a result of the defendants’ dereliction of statutory duties in securing her release from her captors since the month of February, 2018 till date of this action.”

In an affidavit supporting the application, the Executive Director of Lift-Up-Now Incorporation and third plaintiff, Dr. Adeniyi Ojutiku, swore that he has been informed by the lead counsel, Tayo Doughlas, that it is necessary in the circumstance to seek and obtain leave of the court to issue the originating summons on the defendants.

The affidavit reads in part: “I Dr. Adeniyi Ojutiku, a Nigerian citizen of No. 1316 Shining Water Lane Raleigh, NC 27614, United States of America, do nearby solemnly swear and make oath as follows: That I am an executive Director of the Lift-Up-Now Incorporation, herein plaintiff’s 3rd next friend and I am by virtue of this position conversant with the facts herein deposed. That I have the full authority of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd plaintiff’s next friends to make this deposition, and the plaintiff’s claim against the defendants is clearly stated in the originating summons filled herein.”