Lawyer Drags Military To Court Over Poll Monitoring
Chukwuemeka Njoku, Abuja
An Abuja based legal practitioner, Osaze Agbonifo, has dragged the Nigerian military before the Federal High Court, Abuja, seeking an order restraining the Army, Navy, and Air Force from deploying their men to monitor the forthcoming general elections in the country.
In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/154/2019, the plaintiff listed the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Airforce as 1st to 3rd defendants while the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC is listed as the 4th defendant.
By the suit, the plaintiff wants the court to determine whether the Army, Navy and Airforce can validly deploy their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collation and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general elections.
He also prayed the court to determine whether INEC can validly request other defendants in the matter to post or deploy their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collation and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general elections.
An affidavit deposed to by one Sumaiyya Mohammed, in support of the Originating Summons, stated that “it is the full responsibility of the Nigerian Police to provide security during election activities in the country.
The deponent averred that the responsibilities of the Nigerian military include, defending the country from external aggression, maintaining its territorial integrity and security of its borders from violations on land, sea or air.
According to the plaintiff, parts of the responsibilities also include, suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President but subject to such condition as prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.
He said voters will feel harassed and intimidated if the military is allowed to deploy their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collating and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general election.
Consequently, the plaintiff wants the court to make “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st to 3rd defendants from deploying their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collation and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general election.
“An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 4th defendant from requesting the 1st to 3rd defendants to post or deploy their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collation and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general election.
