2019 polls: Stop deployment of soldiers, lawyer begs court

A legal practitioner, Osaze Agbonifo has approached a Federal High Court in Abuja with a suit seeking to stop the Nigerian Military from deploying soldiers for the 2019 general elections.

The plaintiff asked the court to declare that the Nigerian Military cannot validly deploy their men to monitor the elections.

In the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/154/2019, the plaintiff listed the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Airforce as 1st to 3rd defendants while the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC) is listed as the 4th defendant.

Agbonifo prayed the court to determine whether the Army, Navy and Airforce can validly deploy their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collation and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general elections.

He also prayed the court to determine whether INEC can validly request other defendants in the matter to post or deploy their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collation and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general elections.

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The plaintiff asked the court to, among other reliefs, make an “Order of perpetual injunction restraining the 1st to 3rd defendants from deploying their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collation and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general election.

*An order of perpetual injunction restraining the 4th defendant from requesting the 1st to 3rd defendants to post or deploy their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collation and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general election.”

In an affidavit in support of the Originating Summons, deposed to, by Sumaiyya Mohammed, the plaintiff said it is the responsibility of the Nigerian Police to provide security during election activities in the country.

He said the responsibilities of the Nigerian Military include, defending the country from external aggression, maintaining its territorial integrity and security of its borders from violations on land, sea or air.

According to the plaintiff, voters will feel harassed and intimidated if the Nigerian Military is allowed to deploy their personnel, officers and men to polling units, collating and election venues throughout the country for election duties during the 2019 general election.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the matter.