Sterling Centre for Law and Development has filed legal action at the Federal High Court to challenge the legality of the recent park restriction policy issued by the Federal capital Territory Administration (FCTA).
In a statement issued yesterday by its executive director, Deji Ajare, the centre described the policy as attempt on morality policing.
Ajare said the FCTA’s decision to enforce the policy violates the right to freedom of movement of FCT residents which are guaranteed in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) as well as the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
He said by enforcing the policy, FCTA is doing the opposite by denying FCT residents of their rights to peacefully assemble and associate with others.
According to Ajare, “The FCT administration is acting without any lawful authority and has not disclosed any reason for its harsh, rash and retrogressive decision, thus leaving sane members of the public to conclude that this action is nothing more than a mere morality policing-imposing a personal standard of morality on society- a policy approach which the FCT administration under Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello has persistently championed.”
He said the suit with No: FHC/ ABJ/CS/1133/2022 is assigned to Court 3 of the Federal High Court with Justice A.R. Mohammed to hear the matter on August 4, 2022.
