South-East discrimination case not recent —Agbakoba

PROMINENT Lawyer and former President of the Nigerian Bar association, Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has debunked reports that a case he filed against the Federal Government on south east discrimination is recently filed, adding that the case had been before the courts long before now.

Agbakoba in a release on Wednesday stated that the fundamental rights case had been filed since 2000 and had been encountering delay before the courts.

“I have read recent reports about the Fundamental Rights Case filed against the Federal Government for discrimination of the South East Geo-political zone of the country.

“May I correct the impression that the case was only recently filed? The case was filed back in 2010 at the Federal High Court, Enugu but suffered major delay, caused by either the court not sitting or absence of the respondents in court.

“The case had been before three Judges. It is now before Justice Liman. It came up last on September 26, 2016, but could not go on because the respondents were not represented. The case is now adjourned to June 5, 2017, for hearing of the fundamental rights application and the respondents’ preliminary objection. Hopefully we will proceed on the said day,” the learned silk concluded.