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CaseLaw

Ojuya V. Nzeogwu (1996) CLR 2 (H) (CA)

Brief

  • Right of dignity of human persons,
  • Forced or compulsory labour
  • Constitutional question; How determined

Facts

The respondents ordered the appellants to clean up the premises of the New Nigeria Bank and the Post office. The appellants refused to so do because the bank was a limited liability while the post office was the compound of a federal Government parastatal and not part of their village Or communal land for which members of the community were liable to clean.

The District Customary Court imposed a N10 fine on each of them. They appealed to the High Court by way of fundamental Human rights enforcement procedure stating that participation in the clearing exercise amounted to forced labour and not communal work.

The trial Judge held that the exercise was communal labour and not forced labour and dismissed the application with N100 costs to the respondents.

Dissatisfied, appellants went or appeal to the Court of Appeal.

Issues

Whether the communal work given to the appellants amounts to forced labour...

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