Despite the growing rate of Coronavirus infections across the country, a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has thrown out an application before it to compel Nigeria’s Federal Government to shut down the country’s borders.
The application prayed the court to order the Federal government to ban entry into Nigeria from the United States, Iran and China.
The ex parte motion filed by Barrister Johnmary Jideobi was thrown out by Justice Inyant Ekwo who ordered the applicant to put the respondent on notice earlier on Friday.
It turned out however that the only respondent in the application was Attorney General Malami (SAN).
The applicant had stated to the court that Coronavirus had claimed a lot of victims and was spreading quickly around the globe.
On this premise, the applicant, Jideobi, had prayed the court to order the executive to bar entry of persons into the country by air, land and sea pending hearing and determination of the originating motion.
The applicant also sought for a mandatory court order for the respondent to be served with the court order who shall;
“Ensure that the Federal Government of Nigeria [through all responsible Ministries, Departments, and Agencies] implements same within 48hrs of the order being served on the AGF.”
He further asked the court to issue an order setting down the originating motion on notice in the suit hearing within 7 days as predicted and ordered by Order 4 Rule 1 of the Fundamental Rights Enforcement Rules 2009 as enacted by the Chief Justice of Nigeria as well as any Order the court may deem fit.
The applicant also reminded the court that the Attorney General was served with a substantive application on. March 13.
Jideobi finally argued that his application was fuelled by the immediate need to protect public health from contracting Coronavirus as it spreads across the globe like wildfire.
While Justice Ekwo refused to allow the application, he ordered that the respondent be put on notice within two days of granting the order.
He thereafter adjourned the application for hearing till March 26.
He adjourned the matter for hearing till March 26.