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It’s a pretty good bet City Council candidate Gil Hill won’t get Edet Otudor’s vote in next month’s primary.
A city parking lot attendant, Otudor filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court last month, claiming that Hill, while serving as council president in early 2001, violated his civil rights. The Cameroon native is also accusing Hill of racial discrimination, false imprisonment, and of wrongly getting Otudor fired from his job at Cobo Hall’s rooftop parking lot.
Hill spokesman Kamau Marable says the claims are “absolutely and completely groundless.”
According to the lawsuit, Otudor alleges that someone chauffeuring a black Jaguar carrying Hill demanded free entry to the lot. Otudor refused, demanding the usual $2 entrance fee. According to the suit, Hill emerged from the rear of the vehicle in a “drunken state,” cursed at Otudor and threatened him. Hill’s driver then allegedly “detained” Otudor, who was fired after the incident. The union fought successfully to get him reinstated.
Marable says Otudor is “an extremely rude person,” who cursed and refused to communicate with people. Hill lodged complaints against him because there was “great concern that this person is greeting folks at a gateway to Detroit,” says Marable. Marable says allegations that Hill was drunk and rode in a black Jag are “ridiculous.” Hill was riding in a black city-owned Crown Victoria, as do all council members, Marable said. City Attorney June Boyd is representing Hill, and did not immediately return calls.
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