Court stops Nigerian Army’s Operation Positive Identification (OPI) campaign

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos Tuesday ordered the suspension of the Nigerian Army’s operation positive identification campaign.

Justice Rilwan Aikawa ordered parties to the suit to maintain status quo ante pending the determination of the suit filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana.

Human rights activist Femi Falana had filed a filed the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1939/2019 on October 25, seeking, among others, an order stopping the operation.

In the suit, Falana argued that the planned nationwide operation which will run from November 1, to December 23, 2019, by which Nigerian citizens would be required to move about with means of identification is unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.

Falana added that the operation violates his right and that of other Nigerian citizens to liberty, “as encapsulated in Section 35 respectively of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 as amended and Article 6 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act, (Cap A10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The COAS, the Army and the Attorney-General of the Federation are first to third respondents in the suit. When the matter came up Tuesday, none of the respondents were in court.

Falana informed the judge that the respondents had been served the processes and the proof of service was in the court’s file. This was confirmed by the court.

But a principal state counsel from the ministry of justice, prayed the judge to grant an adjournment to enable the solicitor-general, Mr. Dayo Apata, handle the matter personally.He added that the adjournment would enable the respondents have more time to harmonise their positions.

Justice Aikawa granted his application, when the applicant didn’t oppose him.

“In view of the agreement between counsel, I hereby order the first and second defendants to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the case,” the judge ruled and adjourned further proceedings till November 18.

Also, Falana filed along with the suit an order seeking an interim injunction restraining the three respondents from going on with the plan pending the hearing of the substantive suit.

In a supporting affidavit sworn to by a lawyer in his team, Mr. Taiwo Olawanle, the plaintiff recalled that on October 8, 2019 the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai disclosed that the operation positive identification, said to be ongoing in the North East theatre of Boko Haram insurgency would be extended to cover the entire nation.

He said the operation required Nigerian citizens to move about with legitimate means of identification such as the National Identification Card, Voters Registration Card, Drivers’ Licence and passports or other valid official identification.

He noted that the increase in deployment of security forces nationwide would be with potential of movement disruption, and the army had thus advised Nigerians to ensure that they always carry valid means of identification.

Falana argued that by virtue of Section 215 (3) of the Constitution, the Nigerian Police “has the exclusive power to maintain law and order and secure public safety and public order in the country” and not the army.

He contended that going by section 217(1) of the Constitution, only Nigerian President could deploy the armed forces for the suppression of insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore law and order.