The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by ex-Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye challenging some provisions of the Infectious Diseases Bill.
Melaye had filed the suit seeking the court to strike out some sections of the bill noting that it violates his rights under the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.
Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu however refused to consider the case on the basis that the issue raised in it was not justiciable, as the bill could not be a subject of litigation until it is signed into law.
The provisions of the bill being contested by Melaye included the ones seeking to empower the Director-General of the NCDC to compel anyone to take medical examination or treatment and also collect the blood sample of such person in the case of a public health emergency.
Some of the provisions also seek to empower the NCDC to take over any premises and turn them into isolation centres without compensation for the owner.
The bill also seeks to arrest and detain a suspected infected person with his or her consent.
