18th November, 2013
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Monday in Lagos began a four-day public inquiry into cases of demolitions and evictions in the Western Zone of the country.
The inquiry is holding at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi in Lagos.
Prof. Ben Angwe, the Executive Secretary, NHRC, who is also the chairman at the hearing, said that the commission would look into all complaints and make recommendations to the Federal Government for appropriate action.
Angwe said that the commission’s objective was to ensure that people whose rights were violated were addressed by the authority.
He said that 11 complaints of illegal demolition by the Lagos State were received through Centre for the Defence of Human Rights and Democracy in Africa.
The secretary said that two of such complaints against Ogun Government were received from the Civil Liberties Organisation.
He stressed that the Monday seating was to identify all cases while hearing would commence on Tuesday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Lagos and Ogun governments were represented at the hearing, while counsel to various groups or people with complaints were identified.
About 300 people were allowed into the court room, while scores were outside the court due to lack of space. (NAN)