Former Senator representing Kogi Central, Dino Melaye, has sued the speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, over the controversial Infectious Disease Bill.
Other defendants listed in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Makami, the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori and the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Patrick Giwa.
The Infectious Disese Bill has continued to stir contriverises among Nigerians with many claiming that it accords too much powers to the Director General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control.
Also, If signed into law, the health minister will have the right to convert any building into an isolation area, while the police would be able to arrest any individual suffering from an infectious disease without a warrant.
Reacting to the bill via his twitter handle, Melaye stated that he has filed a suit against the speaker of the House of Representatives.
He said, “I have just filed a court action against the Speaker and House of Representatives on the wicked bill initiated by Hon Femi Gbajabiamila this morning at the Federal High Court Abuja. We shall overcome.”
The document with Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/463/2020, which was shared by Melaye’s Twitter account, listed the defendants as Gbajabiamila; Malami; Adamu; the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori; the Clerk of the House of Representatives, Patrick Giwa.
COVID-19 VACCINE: I have just filed a court action against the Speaker and House of Representatives on the wicked bill initiated by Hon Femi Gbajabiamila this morning at the Federal High Court Abuja. We shall overcome.
-Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye pic.twitter.com/qilvghpdYM— Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@dino_melaye) May 4, 2020
The notice of application was filed “in the matter of an application by Senator Dino Melaye for an order for the enforcement of his fundamental rights to the dignity of his person, personal liberty, right to private and family life, right to freedom of movement and right to own immovable property in Nigeria.”
It stated that the “notice of application for an order enforcing fundamental rights (is) brought pursuant to Sections 34 (1), 35 37, 38, 40, 41 (1), 44, and 46 (1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as altered; (and) Articles 4, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12 and 14 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.”
