Traditional worshippers in Kwara state, have filed a lawsuit against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and several others over the violation of their fundamental human rights.
In a suit filed in a federal high court in Ikoyi Lagos, a lawyer, Olukoya Ogungbeje has slammed a N100 million suit on the accused above-mentioned.
Ogungbeje, in the suit, is asking for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the respondents from arresting, detaining, harassing, and further violating the rights to freedom of religion, thoughts, and conscience of traditional religion adherents and faithful as it relates to the planned Isese Cultural Festival.
He further claimed that he filed the suit against the respondents in the public interest on behalf of traditional religious adherents and worshipers in Nigeria.
The lawyer added that the suit is also filed pursuant to the freedom of religion, thoughts, belief, and conscience, under sections 36, 38, 42, and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, Order Ii Rules 1 And 2 of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009; Order Xi of the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 and under the court’s inherent jurisdiction as imbued by Section 6(6)(b) of the Constitution.
Recall that five days ago, Kwara State witnessed a slight form of violence, after police reportedly went after Isese devotees, including outlawing them from holding the annual Isese festival.
The police ban on the festival and arrest received a barrage of irate posts across social media, with devotees stating that such an act was a violation of their fundamental human rights.
SOURCE: Independent
IMAGE: The Guardian
