The chairman of Ibi Local Government Area of Taraba State, Emmanuel Ubandoma, and the council have been sued over an alleged menace by the chairman in opposition to civil servants and political appointees supporting opposition political pursuits.
The go well with, filed by Hajara Sule on the Federal High Court in Jalingo on 19 October, adopted the circulation of a video during which Mr Ubandoma allegedly warned authorities workers in opposition to participating in political actions he thought-about opposite to the pursuits of the Governor Agbu Kefas administration.
The case, marked FHC/JA/HR/66/2026, seeks to implement the basic rights of the council’s workers and political appointees, significantly their rights to freedom of affiliation and safety from discrimination.
Ms Sule is asking the court docket to declare that the workers have the constitutional proper to belong to political events of their selection with out coercion, intimidation or discrimination by the council management.
She additionally needs the court docket to declare that threatening workers with the lack of their salaries due to their political affiliations is unlawful, unconstitutional and a violation of their basic rights.
Reliefs sought
The go well with was filed underneath Sections 40, 42 and 46(1) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, alongside related provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules, 2009.
Ms Sule is searching for an order restraining Mr Ubandoma, the council and their brokers from utilizing their official positions to compel workers or political appointees to be a part of or assist any political celebration.
She can also be demanding ₦20 billion typically and aggravated damages over the alleged violation of the workers’ rights to freedom of affiliation and peaceable meeting.
Additionally, she needs the court docket to order the respondents to tender an unreserved public apology to the council’s workers in not less than two nationwide newspapers.
The applicant is asking the court docket to decide whether or not the alleged threats violate the constitutional rights of the affected workers and to grant any additional aid it considers acceptable.
Alleged threats in opposition to workers
In the video, Mr Ubandoma, talking in Hausa, warned civil servants and political appointees in opposition to taking part in political actions he thought-about opposite to the pursuits of Mr Kefas’s administration.
“If you are a civil servant or hold a government appointment, and I catch you engaging in this, I will take action against you, and whatever follows, you should put it in writing,” he reportedly mentioned.
He argued that authorities workers shouldn’t serve an administration whereas participating in actions he thought-about a betrayal of its pursuits.
“I am saying this because you cannot work for a government that pays your salary and provides for your livelihood, only for you to turn around and betray its trust. That is unacceptable,” he mentioned.
The chairman additionally warned workers in opposition to permitting household relationships to affect their political actions, urging these unable to separate private ties from their official duties to resign.
READ ALSO: 2027: INEC lists 19 candidates for Taraba governorship election
“Even if you are related to a candidate by blood, sharing the same mother or father, if you cannot set that relationship aside and do your duty, you should resign. Resign!” he mentioned.
Mr Ubandoma additional vowed to expose people he accused of betraying the federal government’s belief.
“By the end of this month, I will begin to expose you. I am not afraid of anyone. I am not afraid of anyone who has betrayed the trust placed in them,” he mentioned.
Constitutional rights
Section 40 of the Nigerian Constitution ensures residents the correct to assemble freely and affiliate with others, together with the correct to kind or belong to political events.
Section 42 prohibits discrimination on specified grounds, whereas Section 46 gives a mechanism for searching for judicial redress when basic rights are allegedly violated.
The go well with seeks a judicial willpower of whether or not Mr Ubandoma’s alleged statements violated the affected workers’ rights.
Discover extra from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the newest posts despatched to your e mail.
