Leah Sharibu’s Mother, Others Sue IG, AGF, Demand Unconditional Release of Daughter

Seriki Adinoyi in Jos

Following the continued incarceration of Leah Sharibu, one of the abducted110 Dapchi School Girls by Boko Haram in Yobe State, her mother, Mrs. Rebecca Sharibu, has filed a suit of N500 million along with two other plaintiffs against the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Ibrahim Idris and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Abubakar Malami over their failure to secure her release.

The other plaintiffs in the suit are Mr. Daniel David Kadzai and Lift-Up-Now Incorporation, a Non-Governmental Organisation in the United States of America.
The suit, dated September 19, 2018 with no FCH/L/cs/1528/18 sought N500 million as a compensation for the indignities and human deprivations suffered by Leah since her abduction in February 2018, was filed at the Federal High Court, Lagos, a copy of which was made available to journalists yesterday in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

Parts of the prayers sought by the plaintiffs in the suit is an order of the court to direct and mandate the defendants to secure the immediate and unconditional release of Leah 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.”

Again, the suit pointed out that the defendant may appear by entering appearance personally or by a legal practitioner either by filing the appropriate processes in response at the registry of the court, where the summons was issued, or by sending them to that office by any methods allowed by these rules.

It added that if the defendant does not respond within the stipulated time and at the appropriate place, order will be made and proceedings may be taken as the Judge may think just and expedient.

Meanwhile, in an affidavit supporting the application, the 3rd Plaintiff and Executive Director of the Lift-Up-Now Incorporation, Dr. Adeniyi Ojutiku, solemnly swears that he has been informed by their 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 filed herein.”