LEDAP, a human rights group asked the court to declare that the action is in violation of their rights to self
determination guaranteed under Article 20 of the African Charter on
Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The group also prayed the court to restrain the Nigerian government from taking any step that would add to the
sufferings of the Bakassi people and further violate their rights.
LEDAP averred that in 2002 the Bakassi people were deprived of their respective ancestral homes, farm lands and abodes without their consent by virtue of the judgment of the International Court of
Justice in the suit between Nigeria and the Republic of Cameroun.
It said since then, there have not been any form of resettlement, reparation or compensation by the Federal Government of Nigeria after 10 years of the said judgment, to the affected people.
The group said: "The Federal Government of Nigeria have neglected to resettle the Bakassi people 10 years after the said judgment because they are basically a minority ethnic group.
"Consequently, the people of Bakassi have been subjected to all manner of intimidations, violence by the indigenes of the Republic of Cameroun and in addition disenfranchised in successive general elections in Nigeria, as they no longer exercise their right to vote since election materials never get to them during general elections".
LEDAP queried the non discharge of the duties and obligations of the Federal Government to defend, protect and ensure the observation and enforcement of the fundamental rights of the Bakassi people guaranteed under the various conventions (which Nigeria is a signatory) and the 1999 constitution.
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