Justice Maureen Onyetenu granted the extension while delivering a ruling in a fundamental right suit filed by legal practitioner, Monday Ubani against the federal government, the Attorney General of the Federation, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC and the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.
In the suit, Ubani had contended that the initial two weeks ultimatum (now extended to April 6, 2021) given to telecommunication operators to block SIM Cards of Nigerians who have not registered their SIM Card with NIN if allowed, will infringe on his constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression, right to own moveable property and right to life.
He therefore requested the court docket for an order halting the stated ultimatum and lengthening the cut-off date.
The former NBA Ikeja Chairman also asked the court docket for; a declaration that the ultimatum given to telecommunications operators through the first, third and 4th Respondents to dam all Subscriber Identification Modules (SIM) playing cards that aren't registered with NIN, is grossly inadequate and could no longer handiest work extreme hardship, but will probably infringe at the essential rights of the Applicant (and tens of millions of different Nigerians) to freedom of expression as guaranteed via phase 39(1)(2) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in addition to violate phase forty four(1) of the 1999 charter of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) which prohibits the compulsory acquisition of proper or interest over transportable belongings.
“A announcement that in view of the Covid-19 pandemic and the rising cases in Nigeria presently, the closing date given through the first, 3rd and 4th Respondents to the Applicant and over 2 hundred million Nigerians to sign up their SIM Cards with NIN, will cause a rush, thereby ensuing to clustering of the Applicant and other Nigerian citizens in a NIN registration centre, subjecting him to the opportunity of without difficulty contracting the covid-19 virus, and such will amount to a contravention of his fundamental proper to lifestyles as covered by means of section 33(1) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“An order halting the said ultimatum given by means of the first, 3rd and 4th Respondents to telecommunication operators to dam all SIM Cards that aren't registered with NIN.”
In his ruling, Justice Onyetenu granted all of the reliefs sought by using Ubani.
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