THE Federal High Court (FHC) on Wednesday adjourned motion filed by Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), seeking to counter the proscription of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN) as a terrorist group to September 11.
The court made the decision when the Department of State Security (DSS) sought additional time to better prepare for the case.
Justice Evelyn Maha, the presiding judge, adjourned the case after listening to the submissions of both counsels – Falana and Mr. Ayo Apata, (SAN), Solicitor General of the Federation.
On August, the IMN, through his counsel had earlier filed a court motion challenging the action of the federal government on the proscription and restriction of its members’ activities.
The group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation last month via an ex parte order granted by Justice Maha.
However, the IMN insists action of the federal government was illegal, immoral and as such breached the fundamental human rights of its members, thus would be resisted.
Falana also maintained the same argument on the purported illegality of the proscription. Also, Mike Ozekhome described the action as illegal and unconstitutional.
They urged the court to vacate the ex-parte order.
“This Honorable Court on the 26th day of July, 2019 pursuant to an ex parte application brought by the Applicant/Respondent, made an order, inter alia, proscribing the existence and activities of the Respondent/Applicant (Islamic Movement in Nigeria) in any part of Nigeria under whatever form, either in groups or as individuals by whatever names they are called or referred to without affording the Respondent/Applicant the right of fair hearing,” the court has ordered.
Olugbenga heads the Investigations Desk at The ICIR. Do you have a scoop? Shoot him an email at oadanikin@icirnigeria.org. Twitter Handle: @OluAdanikin