NORTHERN GROUP ASKS COURT TO REMOVE SOUTH-EAST FROM NIGERIA
Civil society groups under the aegis of the Coalition of Northern Groups have approached a Federal High Court, domiciled in Abuja to "Compel the National Assembly to hasten the exit of the South East from Nigeria before concluding the ongoing constitutional amendment."
The plaintiffs, are reportedly led by one Nastura Ashir Shariff, Balarabe Rufa’I, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adamu.
The group said their action was informed by the need to contain the wanton violence and destruction allegedly caused by the agitation for secession championed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The leadership of the groups said they seek to prevent a repeat of the 1967 to 1970 civil war, which cost the country irreparable and unquantifiable loss of lives and property.
Listed as defendants in the suit were the Attorney General of the Federation, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
However, some lawyers from the South East, led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chuks Muoma, Ukpai Ukairo, Ebere Uzoatu and Obi Emuka, have applied to the Court to join them as defendants in the suit. They are asking for an order of the Court to allow them join the suit as representatives of the people of the South Eastern region.
In their application for joinder filed by Victor Onweremadu in Abuja Monday, they said the case of the Northern elders seeking the exit of South East from Nigeria had the capability to shape the life of the generation of Igbo people.
The Motion on Notice for the joinder is said to be in pursuant to order 9 rule 5 and order 26 rule 2 of the Federal High Court civil procedure rule 2019. The Igbo lawyers said they want to be actively participate in the suit as joint defendants to protect their interests in the suit.
They opined that it was illogical for the Northern group and their lawyers to assume it was not necessary for the South East or their representatives to be joined in the suit.
Follow us on Twitter @eonsintelligenc and get exclusive news as it breaks
Comments