Court restrains FG from using soldiers in general elections
(Nigeria) A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday, restrained
President Goodluck Jonathan from deploying troops for elections henceforth,
holding that that there was no part of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) which
empower the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander-In Chief
of the Armed Forces to deploy military for election purposes.
The judge, Justice Ibrahim Buba in his judgment in the suit a House of
Representatives member and chieftain of All Progressives Congress, APC, Mr Femi
Gbajabiamila, said "It is unconstitutional for the Federal Government to deploy military for the supervision of election purposes without the approval of the National Assembly."
Gbajabiamila, leader of opposition in the House of
Representatives, had gone to court, challenging the legality of troops'
deployment for election by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Defendants in the suit were President Jonathan, the Chief of
Defence Staff, Chief Of Army Staff, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff
and the Attorney General of the Federation and Justice Minister.
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