Justice Rilwan Aikawa of a Lagos Federal High Court has ordered the suspension of the military exercise tagged Operation Positive Identification which the Nigerian Army said it would begin this month across the country.
The judge gave the order sequel to a suit filed by a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, against the Nigerian Army, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Attorney-General of the Federation over the exercise.
When the matter came up today, the Nigerian Army and the Chief of Army Staff had no legal representation which prompt Justice Aikawa to rule that parties should maintain status quo pending the determination of the case.
Cousel to the Attorney General, Mr. Fiyinfoluwa Sobowale appealed for a suitable date to enable them respond to the issues raised in the suit.
Mr Falana, however, insisted on the closest date possible, arguing that the case was time-bound and there would be no point in the case if the parties continued with their actions while the matter is yet to be heard in court.
After entertaining submission from counsels, Justice Aikawa, noted that due to the nature of the case, a delay would reduce the case to a mere academic exercise.
He therefore asked all the defendants to appear in court on November 18 for the substantive hearing of the suit.
The complainant, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr. Femi Falana is asking the court to declare the operation scheduled for November 1 to December 23 as unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
