Court Dismisses Dino Melaye’s Suit Against The Infectious Disease Bill

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu of the Federal High Court Abuja has rejected the suit of Senator Dino Melaye, challenging some sections of the controversial Control of Infectious Disease Bill 2020, the bill is also referred to as the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Bill. Dino Melaye

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu delivered her judgement on the suit today June 30, where she said her court lacked the jurisdiction to hear and determine issues raised in the suit filed by the ex-lawmaker. She further held that the issues raised by the suit were not justifiable as a bill could bot be a subject of litigation until it is passed into law.

Sen Dino Melaye who represented Kogi West Senatorial district in the Eight Senate had on May 5, 2020, filed the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/463/2020, urging the court to delete sections 5, 8, 15, 16 and 17 of the bill which he said constituted a violation or would likely violate his rights and those of Nigerians under the Nigerian Constitution, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as well the United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Dino Melaye Reacts To Tribunal Sack, Says His Mandate Cannot Be StolenSen. Dino Melaye faulted provisions of the Bill 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. He also queried the provision in the bill that seeks to empower the NCDC to take over any premises and turn them into Isolation centres without compensation for the owner.

Joined in the suit as respondents were the Clerk of the National Assembly, the Clerk of the House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).Photo Credit: Getty

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