CAN orders FG to take Boko Haram Suspects from Ekwulobia Prison back to their former prison as Group Sues FG

Firstclass newsline~The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN),
Anambra State chapter, monday asked the federal government to urgently
relocate the Boko Haram suspects in Ekwulobia prison in the state to
other places outside the South-east.
The call, which was contained in a communiqué issued by the body after
a marathon meeting monday in Awka came on the heels of protests by the
body's women and youth wings as well as clerics under the aegis of
(WOWICAN) at the Emmaus House in the city against the camping of the
Boko Haram suspects at the Ekwulobia prison facility.
The protesters, who included the Archbishop of the Diocese on the
Niger and Dean, Anglican Communion, Most Rev. Christian Efobi,
Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezekafor, Anglican
Bishop of Awka, Most Rev. Alex Ibezim, Bishop of the Niger West, Most
Rev. Johnson Ekwe and Bishop Samuel Ezeofor among others denounced the
relocation of Boko Haram inmates to Anambra State.
"We have not slept since the ugly situation in Ekwulobia", "Anambra
CAN says no to Boko-Haram," WOWICAN rejects Boko-Haram", some of the
placards they wielded read.
The situation they insisted had created undue fear and panic among
Ekwulobia people, while the residents in the area are relocating to
other communities for safety.
But the communiqué after the emergency meeting of the state Executive
and Leaders of CAN forum in the state and signed by the state chairman
of the association, Tim Okpala, said that though the Ekwulobia prison
is a federal facility and that the federal government has the power to
use it for inmates from any part of the country, bringing Boko- Haram
insurgents to the prison in the state poses a security threat to the
lives and property in the state.
Meanwhile, Irked by the recent relocation of the 47 unconvicted Boko
Haram members to the Ekwulobia prisons, a civil rights group
identified as Civil Rights Realisation and Advancement Network
yesterday dragged the federal government to court, seeking a reversal
of the action.
The organisation demanded the immediate relocation of the 47
unconvicted Boko Haram members from Anambra to the northern part of
the country where the offence was committed.
The group is asking the court in the suit (FHC/AWK/CS/296/15), which
was filed yesterday at the Federal High Court, Awka, for a declaration
"that the continued detention of the unconvicted 47 Boko Haram members
at the Ezinifite/Ekwulobia Prisons, Aguata Local Government Area of
Anambra State and subsequent commencement of their trial at the
expiration of the 90 days maximum days of detention stipulated by the
Terrorism(prevention)(Amendment) Act 2013, posses a grave threat to
the right to life of the applicants and the entire people of
Ezinifite/Ekwulobia, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State,
which is guaranteed by sections 33 of the Constitution of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) and Article 4, of the African
Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, (Ratification and Enforcement
Act) Cap. A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and is therefore
illegal, unconstitutional, null and void."
The applicant, is also seeking for an order of perpetual injunction
restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their agents,
privies or otherwise howsoever from further transferring other Boko
Haram members to the Ezinifite/Ekwulobia, Aguata Local Government
Area, Anambra State.
Basil Chukwu the Programme Officer of the organisation deposed to the
affidavit in support of the suit.
The applicant further insisted that the respondents with their actions
are likely to infringe on the fundamental right to life of the
applicants and the people of Ezinifite/Ekwulobia, Anambra State,
adding that it was unconstitutional for the respondents to take an
action that would affect the constitutional right to life of the
applicants and the people of Ezinifite/Ekwulobia, Anambra State.
Firstclassnewsline.net