Court Asked to Compel NASS To Allow Exit Of Biafra

A group of elders and politicians from Kano State has asked a Federal High Court, Abuja, to compel the Senate and the House of Representatives, to hasten the exit of the South-East from Nigeria.

The Plaintiffs want the court to order Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Olufemi Gbajabiamila to sure the exit of Biafra, before concluding an ongoing amendment to the country’s constitution.

The plaintiffs are Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’I, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam.

In the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021, the plaintiffs said their request is to stem the tide of violence and destruction allegedly occasioned by the agitation for secession, championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

They prayed the court for the following reliefs: “A declaration that, by the combined effect of the provisions of Section 4 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and Articles 1, 2, and 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004, the 4th defendant (the National Assembly) is empowered to set in motion a framework for a referendum to allow the South-eastern region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to decide on their bid for self-determination.

“A declaration that in view of the provisions of Articles 1, 2, 4, 14 and 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004, the 2nd and 3rd defendants (the Senate President and House of Reps Speaker) have the power to call for a joint session of both Chambers of the 4th defendant to deliberate on the agitation for self-determination by the Southeastern states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“An order directing the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants to provide a framework that will pave the way for the self-determination of the South-eastern states so as to leave the geographical entity called Nigeria before any further step is taken to further amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Listed as defendants in the suit are the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) (Abubakar Malami), the Senate President (Lawan), the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Gbajabiamila) and the National Assembly.

Meantime, the matter has been assigned to Justice Inyang  Ekwo, for November 1, 2021, for hearing.