A civil society organisation,
Initiative for Minority Rights Advancement for Great Development, IMRAGD, has
approached a Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking to be joined as an interested
party in the suit challenging the ongoing Operation Python Dance III by the
Nigerian Army.
Last week, a Lagos-based
Rights Campaigner, Chief Malcom Omirhobo, asked the court to declare as
unlawful and unconstitutional, the declaration of “Operation Python Dance”
across the nation.
The applicants in the suit labelled
FHC/ABJ/CS/01/2019, are Omirhobo and Board of Incorporated Trustees of Malcom
Omirhobo Foundation.
Joined as respondents are the
Attorney General of the Federation, the National Assembly, the Inspector
General of Police, the Nigeria Police Council, Police Affairs Commission as
well as Service Chiefs.
But IMRAGD, through their
lawyer, Mr Otemu Oghenovo, in the suit said it intends to show to the court
that the suit filed by Chief Omirhobo is misconceived and an attempt to
interfere in the statutory duty and operations of the Nigerian Army.
In the affidavit deposed to, by
Eruke Asivwe, a litigation secretary in the Chamber of Mr.
Oghenovo, the plaintiff said, "That the applicant herein
intends to challenge the suit on the ground that it is misconceived and an
attempt to interfere into the statutory duties and responsibilities of the
Nigerian Army.
"That if the plaintiff succeeds
and the Nigerian Army is made to stop its legitimate operations, the
applicants, its trustees and members will be adversely affected.
"That I know that it is just
and judicious for the honourable court to allow the applicant to be joined to
enable it present its own case.
"That I also know as a fact
that this suit affects the interest of the applicant and its presence in the
determination will give the court the competent jurisdiction".
In the main suit, Omirhobo, is
seeking the court’s declaration that the commencement of a nationwide
“Operation Python Dance” with effect from January 1 to February 28, with the
military to tackle internal security challenges during the conduct of the
country’s general elections is illegal and undemocratic.
According to him, it violates the
fundamental rights of the applicant, as well as those of the Nigerian public,
to life, dignity of human person, personal liberty, family and private life,
freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association, and freedom of
movement.
No date has been fixed for hearing
of the suit.
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