A lawyer and human rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, has threatened to challenge the order of President Muhammadu Buhari to lock down Abuja and Lagos for 14 days to curb Coronavirus.
Buhari declared this during a live broadcast on Sunday. Before now, a senior advocate, Ebun Adegboruwa said the lockdown is illegal.
In the same vein, Mr Effiong in a statement sent to POLITICS NIGERIA said after a deep reflection on President Buhari’s decision to lockdown ALL movements in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja by presidential fiat for fourteen (14) days, he had resolved to challenge the “unconstitutional” action in court.
“No responsible, democratic and civilised country will throw its Constitution and laws into the dustbin in an effort to tackle a pandemic like COVID-19 the way President Buhari has done. Freedom of movement is a fundamental right guaranteed by Section 41 of the Constitution.”
“While it is conceded that this right is not absolute, Section 45 of the Constitution is clear to the effect that freedom of movement can only be taken away in the manner allowed by a law that is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society. Buhari has not relied on any law.
He said no law has been passed by National Assembly to empower Mr Buhari’s lockdown pronouncement.
he said: “No law has been passed by the National Assembly to empower Buhari to lockdown Nigeria or any part thereof on account of coronavirus. Buhari hasn’t issued regulations as required under the Quarantine Act. The President has not declared a state of emergency in Lagos, Ogun or Abuja.
“If Buhari is convinced that extraordinary measures are needed to contain coronavirus, the proper action would have been for him to issue an instrument published in the official Gazette of the Government and make a proclamation of a state of emergency in Lagos, Ogun and Abuja.
“By Section 305 (6) (b) of the Constitution, such proclamation shall cease to have effect if it is not approved by a resolution of the National Assembly within two days where the National Assembly is in session or within ten days where the National Assembly is not in session.
“By Section 305 (2) of the Constitution, the details of such proclamation can include extraordinary measures like lockdown. Those who say that the rule of law is useless because of this pandemic are mistaken. There is no exception to the rule of law in a constitutional democracy.”
“Buhari could have asked the Senate President and Speaker of the National Assembly to convene the National Assembly to approve a state of emergency. He could have simply issued regulations pursuant to the Quarantine Act. But he opted for his usual dictatorial ways of doing things.
“As a resident of Lagos State, I am directly affected by the illegal action of the President. I will seek redress in court either before or after the expiration of this unconstitutional lockdown since there is no limitation of time with respect to fundamental right actions.
“President Buhari can either retrace his unconstitutional steps immediately and follow the due process of law or face my impending legal action. The choice is his.
All serious countries declared emergency, passed or invoked laws to tackle COVID-19.
Is Nigeria a banana republic?” he asked.
You are a very big fool, who know you in Nigeria and how many people have you help, you want Nigerians to know abt your existence, go to hell, preventive measures to saves life… You are here ranting… Sue in my foot. Get lost with your stupid legal action against Mr President.
This lawyer is looking for cheap publicity. Or may be the lawyer is deaf and dumb. Effiong Inibehe or what do you call yourself, Do you want this deadly disease to spread accross all over the states in Nigeria before PMB will now take this step? Or don’t you know that ”Health is Wealth”? If you have money and food , and you don’t have good health, please will you be able to eat the food or spend the money? The answer is NO!
Insensitive to the effect of what this disease has caused to the developed countries seems to elude this lawyer. Yes the president has to follow due process we know that, but when drastic measures are required this is how it is. Please take heart it is for our own survive.
People like you who never believe in the Rule of Law ,will continue supporting foolishness and ignorancy of your president.