Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court has adjourned to July 13, 2023 the hearing of the main application filed by natives of Abuja against the federal government and the National Assembly to establish FCT functionaries and political structure for the indigenes to participate in the House of Assembly and governorship elections.
The natives had dragged the federal government and the National Assembly to court in a case filed by the Registered Trustees of Abuja Original Inhabitants Youth Empowerment Organisation against the President of Nigeria, with suit no: fct/hc/cv/85/2023, seeking that Section 299 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria equates FCT, Abuja to a state in status.
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The counsel to the FCT natives, Barr. James Nadeye, while speaking with journalists after the court proceedings yesterday said that the hearing of the main application for enforcement of the applicant’s fundamental rights to the dignity of person and freedom from discrimination could not go on yesterday because the 1st and 3rd respondents who are the President and Attorney General sought for an adjournment to enable them file and serve the applicant their responses.
He said the court granted them the chance and time to do so since the National Assembly had earlier filed their responses, saying that the matter was then adjourned to July 13, 2023, for the hearing of the application.
While speaking on attorneys-general from other states invited to be part of the case, he said this is because most of them who are indigenous people of FCT formally belonged to other states and that their coming into the matter would help them a lot.
“You know, in most cases, people believe that we still belong to Niger, Kwara State or so, but that is not the case. And that is why we are here to let the world know that, look, we are FCT indigenes. And by the provisions of the law, we have no other place to claim as a state.
“So, by the time they are here, they will testify before the court, whether they have seen us in their secretariat or their governor’s house. So, this is where we are. So, if they come, they will help in the matter,” he said.
A major stakeholder of the FCT, Hajiya Farida Suleiman, told journalists that the case was going at a slow pace and that the natives expected it to be speedy for quick dispensation of justice.
“By God’s grace, I would appreciate it if the courts will reach out to the neighbouring states, so that Nigerians will know that we are not benefiting from any other state. Instead, the neighbouring states are benefiting from FCT, since FCT is a mini-Nigeria,” she said.