The move by SERAP followed what it described as brutal crackdown, repression, and grave violations and abuses of human rights of the people of Rivers State.
In the suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its solicitors, Kolawole Oluwadare, Atinuke Adejuyigbe and Opeyemi Owolabi the organization alleged that Governor Wike is using COVID-19 as a pretext to step up repression and systematic abuses against the people of Rivers State, including, carrying out mass arbitrary detention, mistreatment, forced evictions, and imposing pervasive controls on daily life.
SERAP said Governor Wike is using executive orders 1 and 6, 2020 as instruments to violate and abuse the rights to liberty and freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention, to a fair trial, and to property, contrary to Nigeria’s international human rights obligations, including under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
The organization explained that the suit is primarily against Governor Wike and the Rivers state government for failing to respect, protect and ensure the constitutionally and internationally guaranteed human rights of the people of his state.
SERAP sought the court for an order of injunction to restrain and stop Governor Wike from further using, applying and enforcing executive orders 1 and 6 or any other executive orders to harass, arbitrarily arrest, detain and demolish property of the people of Rivers state.
It also sought an order directing Governor Wike and the other defendants to pay adequate monetary compensation to the victims of human rights violations and abuses and to provide other forms of reparation, which may take the form of restitution, satisfaction or guarantees of non-repetition, and other forms of reparation that the Court may deem fit to grant.
The Advocacy group contended that several people were arbitrarily arrested and detained in various police stations and isolation centers in Rivers State and without any regard for due process of law.
