By Garry Ochigbo
The Federal High Court Abuja on Wednesday, fixed March 20 to deliver judgment in a suit filed by a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Mr Ugochukwu Uchenwa seeking to stop the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays.
Justice James Omotosho fixed the date after listening to lead counsels arguments for and against the suit.
The plaintiff, Uchenwa, who is an elder of the church, filed the suit on the grounds that fixing elections and examinations on Saturdays violated his rights and that of other members of the church, to freedom of worship.
In the alternative, the plaintiff, prayed the court to order the defendants to allow him and other members of his church to vote or write examinations on any other day of the week including Sundays.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the President, the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Others, are the Joint Admission and Matriculation Examinations, JAMB, the National Examination Council, NECO, West African Examination Council, WAEC, the National Business and Technical Examination Board, Council of Legal Education and the Ministry of Education.
At Wednesday’s hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Mr Benjamin Amaefule told the court that his client was only seeking an enforcement of his fundamental right to freedom of education and freedom to participate in elections.
Amaefule told the court that his client was seeking among others, a declaration that the schedule of elections in Nigeria on Saturdays, the “Sabbath day”, was a violation of his fundamental rights to freedom of worship.
Responding on behalf of the President and the AGF, Maimuna Shiru told the court that she filed a 17- paragraph affidavit on behalf of her client in opposition to the suit hence prayed the court to dismiss the suit for lacking in merit.
On his part, counsel to WAEC, Mr Friday Chorio argued that Nigeria was a circular state as it had not adopted any religion as its own adding that the constitution provides that Nigeria shall not adopt any religion as its own.
For the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB), Safinat Lamidi told the court that she filed a preliminary objection praying the court to dismiss the suit as it lacked the jurisdiction to entertain it.
The Minister of Internal Affairs, INEC, NECO, National Business and Technical Board, Council for Legal Education and the Ministry of Education were all absent in court as no counsel announced appearance on their behalf.
However, Justice Omotosho having confirmed that they were duly notified of the hearing date proceeded to hear the matter and subsequently fixed March 20 for judgment.
Edited By Grace Namiji
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