The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has commenced legal proceedings against the Federal Government over the contentious Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.
CUPP Spokesman, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere stated this at a news briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said that the coalition was heading to court to seek clarification of sections of the new law that give government direct regulatory control over religious centres.
According to him, a suit was filed on behalf of the coalition by one of its members, Action Peoples Party (APP) before the FCT High Court.
Ugochinyere said, “This new law and how the mysterious sections which attack the very sacred foundations of God-given right to freedom of worship, association and speech alongside the right of believers to have their spiritual leaders and their doctrine sacredly pursued is a shock to the opposition family.
“We agree that there is need for regulation of activities of religious groups, but that can be done by enacting laws for religious self regulatory bodies like professional bodies self-regulate and not a direct take over and subjugation of the Christian and Muslim bodies and their outfits under the control of government and a political party member.
“The new CAMA should have expressly exempted religious bodies and immune them from the control of a minister of trade and CAC which can be easily influenced politically.”
The CUPP spokesman noted that the court would determine among others “whether by the combined effect of Sections 1 (1) and (2), 6(6)(a) and (b) as well as Sections 38, 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999; the provisions of Section 839 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, 2020 can constitutionally and validly operate to suspend or appoint interim manager(s) and/or impose any other restrictions upon, over or in respect of the incorporated trustees, assets, property or affairs of any association registered thereunder, such rights having been guaranteed under the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.”
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