The federal government was on Friday named in a suit filed in a Lagos Federal High Court over its position that Amotekun is an illegal outfit.
The suit, filed by one Malcolm Emokinovo Omirhobo, a lawyer, seeks to challenge the FG’s position as stated by Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
In addition to the AGF, Omirhobo named President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, and the armed forces as defendants.
Also joined in the suit are the Attorney-Generals of Bauchi, Borno, Ekiti, Gombe, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger, Sokoto, and Yobe states.
Omirhobo seeks for clarification on the legality of the security outfit and if the Nigerian government’s support of and use of public funds to institute a Sharia police-HISBAH-is a constitutionally guaranteed right. He seeks clarification on the presence of bias in the government’s attitude to HISBAH and Operwtiin Amotekun which both seek to aid security agencies in carrying out their duties.
The plaintiff also wants the court to decide if the defendants’ use of public funds to institutionalise and implement Sharia in their states do not contravene the provisions of sections 1(1) and 10 of the 1999 Constitution, bearing in mind that Nigeria is a secular State.
A date for the commencement of hearing on the case is expected to be announced soon.
