Lagos lawyer sues FG, 5 others for spending N25bn on Abuja drainage

Lagos lawyer and rights activists, Chief Malcolm Omirhobo has filed a suit against the Federal Government and five others before a Federal High Court, Abuja for spending N257bn for the construction of drainage system constructed at the middle of Abuja Airport/Kubwa expressway.
The other five defendants are the Attorney General of Federation, the Federal Capital Development Authority, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited and CGCOC Group Co. Limited.

Barr (Chief) Malolm Omirhobo

In the application, Omirhobo declared that the sum of 257 Billion Naira (1.7 Billion Dollars) of the Nigerian tax payers money expended by the Federal Government as cost for the rehabilitation and expansion of the UmaruYar’adua Expressway, Abuja is more than enough to design and construct a world class Expressway with very high level of safety.
Omirhobo maintained that the hazardous open drainage system designed is a flagrant violation and a breach of the fundamental right to his life and that of members of the Nigerian Public as guaranteed by the Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act ) LFN 1990 and therefore improper, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
He argued that after expended such huge amount of Nigerian tax payers money for the rehabilitation and expansion of the Umaru Yar’adua Expressway, it is improper, illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional for the Respondents to expose the lives of Nigerians using the Expressway to danger.
Consequently, Omirhobo is appealing to the court to compel the Respondents to forthwith redesign and reconstruct the said drainage system lying in the middle of the Umaru Yar’adua Expressway, Abuja to have cover/walk way and pavement in such a manner as to secure the lives of Nigerian public using the said Expressway as guaranteed by the Public according to Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended) and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (Ratification and Enforcement Act) LFN 1990.
“A public apology to the Nigerian Public for the poorly designed and constructed drainage system in the middle of the Umaru Yar’adua Expressway, Abuja which has caused them their lives, fears , anxiety, pains, sorrows and damages over the years since 2014 to date.
“And for such further order or orders as this Honourable Court may deem fit to make in the circumstances of this case,” he appealed