A Federal High Court in Abuja has said that the clampdown on the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN) in 2013 by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) was illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.
The court also barred the civil defence from interfering in the lawful activities of the Peace Corps in the 36 states of the federation and Abuja and as well stopped it from attempting to seize uniforms of officers and men of the Peace Corps.
Delivering judgment on Friday, in a suit filed against the civil defence, its Commandant General, and one Aminu Abdullahi Kesoro, the trial Judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed barred the civil defence from taking any action that will infringe on the fundamental rights of the officers and men of the Peace Corps in the country.
Justice Mohammed held that Peace Corps, as a lawfully registered organization has the rights to carry out its programmes in the country within the ambit of the law.
The judge held that the clampdown constituted an abuse of power and breach of the fundamental rights of the Peace Corps officers and men as enshrined under section 34 of the 1999 Constitution.
The Judge also prohibited the NSCDC from obstructing the Peace Corps officers and men lawfully posted to schools across the country for the purpose of providing security for the schools.
The Incorporated Trustees of the Peace Corps of Nigeria had dragged the three respondents namely, the NSCDC, its Commandant General and Aminu Abdullahi Kesoro before the court to challenge the legality of the clampdown on the Peace Corps offices in the 36 States and Abuja and the seizure of their uniforms and other properties.
The plaintiff had prayed the court to declare as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional the interference of the civil defence with activities of Peace Corps officers and men posted to secondary schools and colleges who have a partnership with the PCN.
Justice Mohammed in the judgment that lasted almost two hours condemned the action of the civil defence as barbaric, uncivilized and that the civil defence acted ultra vires.
He, therefore, granted an order of perpetual injunction against the civil defence from threatening, harassing, molesting, intimidating and disrupting the activities of the Peace Corps officers and men in their lawful official duties.
Reacting to the judgment, the National Commandant of Peace Corps, Ambassador Dickson Akoh thanked the judiciary for ensuring that the rule of law prevails in the dispute.
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