Agbakoba Threatens To Sue NASS With Suit Over Ecclesiastical Courts

[Shola Sholaz]

Former President of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, Mr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), has threatened to sue National Assembly and Attorney-General of the Federation over the absence of Christian and Ecclesiastical Courts in the 1999 Constitution.
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Agbakoba, in a petition to the Senate President, entitled Establishment of Ecclesiastical Courts, argued that it was a violation of Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which prohibits discrimination on account of religion.
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He observed that no provision was made for Christians to have their religious and spiritual affairs adjudicated by persons adequately learned in Ecclesiastical laws and biblical jurisprudence.
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Agbakoba said: "Islamic and Customary practitioners are well recognised and accommodated in the Constitution by the establishment of the Customary and Islamic court systems in Sections 260, 265, 275 and 280.