Femi Falana, human
rights lawyer, says the federal government needs legal backing to enforce its
regulations to mitigate the spread of coronavirus.
The lawyer said this
in reaction to a comment made by Lai Mohammed, minister of information and
culture.
The minister had
threatened that those who flouted the government’s directives to contain the
virus would be dealt with according to the law.
But in a statement
on Thursday, Falana said the government has itself to blame if anyone flouts
the measures put in place to contain the disease.
The senior advocate
of Nigeria (SAN) said he had asked President Muhammadu Buhari to declare a
state of emergency because it is on that basis that anyone who flouts the
regulations could be prosecuted.
“Out of frustration,
the federal government has threatened to deal with religious and political
leaders who have been flouting the measures put in place to contain the
coronavirus pandemic,” he said.
“However, while no
political or religious leader should be allowed to risk the lives of the
Nigerian people by disregarding measures that have been announced by the
authorities the Federal Government has itself to blame for failing to proclaim
a state of emergency to deal with the ravaging COVID-19.
“It is common
knowledge that leaders of many countries have since invoked the provisions of
relevant statutes to declare a state of emergency before imposing restriction
on the locomotion of people and lockdown of towns.
“Our appeal to
President Mohammadu Buhari to proclaim a state of emergency throughout the
federation pursuant to section 305 of the constitution of Nigeria has been
ignored without any explanation.
“This is due to the
fact that the Federal Government has failed to realise that we are no longer
under the jackboots when Nigerians were sanctioned for flouting regulations
which were based on the whims and caprices of military dictators.”
He said since the
presidency is on lock-down, governors should invoke the quarantine act as a
measure to contain the spread of the virus.
“Having confirmed
that the presidency is on lockdown we are compelled to call on State Governors
to apply the Quarantine Act which provides for and regulate the imposition of
quarantine and to make other provisions for preventing the introduction into
and spread in Nigeria and the transmission from Nigeria of dangerous infectious
diseases,” Falana said.
“In particular,
state governors are enjoined to invoke section 8 of the Act which empowers them
to make such declarations and issue necessary regulations to combat any
infectious disease like the COVID-19.”
The lawyer said once
the declaration is made, the police can prosecute anyone who violates any
regulation on the basis of the quarantine act.
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