Orji Kalu Threatens To Sue Fashola Over Igbo Maltreatment By Lagos

Former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has given the
Lagos State Government a seven day ultimatum to offer an apology to
the allegedly deported 67 personof Igbo heritage or he will head to
court.
[image]Orji Kalu criticized the actionof the Lagos State government as
lawless and vexatious and further said that it threatens the corporate
existence of the country and there wasno law in the country, that
gives a state or governor power to deport any Nigerian citizen to any
part of the country.
In a statement made available to THISDAY Monday, Kalu said there was
right to freedom of movement for every Nigerian as enshrined in
Section 41 of the 1999 Constitution.
Besides, the former governor argued that it was an open secret that
the Igbo contribute about 55 per cent to the Lagos economy.
"It is appalling to learn that the deported Igbo were even detained in
Ikorodu for about six months before their illegal deportation.
"They were taken to Onitsha in four buses, escorted by anti-riot
policemen," he said.
One of them, Osondu Mbuto, a trader from Ohaozara in Ebonyi State, was
on his way to his shop on December 18, 2012 when he was arrested by
officials of the state's Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) and detained
for no reason until he was deported in his father's land.
"The reaction of the state government that the Igbo were deported to
reunite them with their families was the worst insult to any race.
"Governor Fashola's Special Adviser on Youths and Social Development,
Dr. Enitan Dolapo Badru, said: 'The end result is to reunite them back
with their families.'
"What an affront against the collective will of Ndigbo or any other
race in Nigeria to live and do business in any part of the country?
"The action of the state government is not only wicked but a clear
breach of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as
amended.
"To worsen the matter, most of those deported are not even indigenes
of Anambra State. Is Anambra State now a dumping ground for any act of
illegality? Is Lagos State Government above the law of the country? If
not, can it operate another set of laws without recourse to
constitution amendment? Is it not a travesty of justice that officers
of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) were even used for this illegal act
against the Nigerian state? Was the supervising officer, whoallowed
the deployment of the policemen, not told that they were going to be
used for the deportation ofNigerians they were paid by tax payers'
money to protect in their fathers' land?
"The action is a gross infraction to the rights of the deportees to
dwell in any part of Nigeria without discrimination. With this wicked,
crude and primitive deportation, I just wonder why a component unit of
Nigeria, under the authority and supremacy of a constitution would
choose to be lawless in such an unconstitutional conduct. Not even
under the military would such an action have happened.
"Even if a criminal offence was committed, the place to take them to
is the court, not for them to be deported. The action of the Lagos
StateGovernment is lawless as it is vexatious and I condemn it in
strong terms because it threatens the existence of our country. All
patriotic Nigerians should say no to this xenophobic action of Lagos
State Government because it usurps the powers of the federal
government anddisregards our constitution.
"I demand a public apology from the governor within seven days to all
those illegally deported and a repeat of such an act must be stopped
or I willhead to court to defend the interest of the Ndigbo in Lagos.
Enough is enough."