The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has been sued for allegedly breaching the fundamental human rights of some residents.

These residents, who are demanding N500 million in damages, are said to include scavengers, beggars, and petty traders, among others.

A legal practitioner, Abba Hikima, filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1749/3024 before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja on behalf of the vulnerable residents.

Hikima, listed as the applicant in the originating motion dated November 19, 2024, but filed on November 20, 2024, said he is suing in the public interest for the protection of vulnerable citizens in Nigeria.

The applicant dragged Wike; the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun; Director-General, Department of State Services, DSS, and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, to court as the 1st to 4th respondents.

He also included the Attorney-General of the Federation, AGF, and the Federal Government of Nigeria as the 5th to 6th respondents, respectively.

Hikima urged the court to declare that the arbitrary arrest, detention without charges, harassment and extortion of homeless persons, scavengers, petty traders, beggars and other vulnerable Nigerians residing in the FCT, constitute a violation of their fundamental rights.

According to him, these rights are guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 41 and 42 of the Constitution of Nigeria 1999 (as altered).

He is, therefore, seeking an order directing the respondents to issue a public apology to the affected individuals and Nigerian citizens at large for the inhumane, arbitrary and unconstitutional treatment meted out to them pursuant to the directive of the 1st respondent (Wike) dated October 22, 2024.