Following the death of alleged man-eater, Clifford Orji, an Ikeja High Court on Thursday dismissed his one million naira suit against the Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr Ade Ipaye.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Justice Lateefat Okunnu dismissed the suit following the confirmation that Orji died on Aug.17 at the Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos.
Orji had filed the suit through his counsel, the Abiodun Odusote Chambers.
He challenged his continued detention in prison for about 12 years without trial.
The Lagos State commissioner of police was joined as a respondent in the suit.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, Orji’s counsel, Mrs Abimbola Odusote, told the court that Orji died of gastroentritis.
Odusote said that the chambers had received documents and a sworn affidavit from prisons authorities confirming Orji’s death.
She, therefore, asked the court to strike out the suit.
NAN reports that Orji was arraigned over alleged murder before an Ikeja High Court which remanded him in prison custody on Dec. 7, 2000.
In the suit filed by his counsel on April 26, Orji had asked the court for a declaration that his continued detention violated his right to liberty as enshrined in Section 35 (1) (4) of the 1999 Constitution.
He asked the court to order the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions to release him unconditionally from prison custody.
Orji also asked the court to order the respondents to pay him one million naira being exemplary and general damages for breaching his constitutional rights.
- NAN