The group made this assertion in Benin City at the general meeting of all affiliate organizations and study centers across Edo state, where it passed a resolution on issues of concern.
While adopting the resolution for the demand for justice, the Interim Chairman of EDOCSO, Bishop Osadolor Ochei, wondered why the court is yet to entertain the fundamental rights suit filed to determine the legality of the federal government plan to block the Subscriber Identification Module (SIM) cards of telecommunications subscribers in Nigeria, seven months after the suit was filed at the Federal High court, Benin.
Recall that EDOSCO in the suit marked: FHC/B/CS/13/2021 with Bishop Osadolor Anthony Ochei, Leftist Omobude Agho, Leftist Osazee Edigin, Miss Patience Okafor, Omoragbon Stella Asia, Omokhomion Judith Iguehi, Moshood Momodu, and Larry Enabulele on behalf of themselves and members of the Edo Civil society Organisations instituted a suit against the National Identification Management Commission (NIMC), Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy, and Nigeria Communication Communication.
Also listed as defendants are the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), and Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).
The TEC Chairman said: “We took seven Federal government agencies to court, seeking an order to bar agencies from blocking SIM cards of subscribers by a mere pronouncement by the executive. We are not interested in who is losing or winning. It is about testing the laws.
“Sadly, between January 2021 till date, the caseat the Federal High court has neither been assigned nor entertained by the court. To worsen our plights, one day after we had filed the case, we were told that the two judges had been transferred almost the same day.
“We have spent over N100, 000 for filing court papers and others. Even though the case has not been held, we will not keep quiet”, he stressed.
Ochei thereafter charged members of the Organizations to be upright, steadfast, and resist any form of inducement by maverick politicians as well as shun untoward acts that could make them vulnerable to abuse.
Members of the Organization also voiced their distaste for selective justice and bemoaned the intolerable level of insecurity in Nigeria under President Muhammadu Buhari
The body unanimously admonished the Edo State Traffic Management Agency(EDSTMA), asking the agency to place no parking zones on locations where necessary to avoid the abuse of rights of lawful road users across the state
Specifically, Leftist Osazee demanded an end to indiscrimante towing of vehicles in a bid to meet targets by EDSTMA officials which is fast becoming a money-spinner.
“If you look at the whole city, there is no place marked ‘no parking’ yet if you park your vehicle before you return in a short period, your vehicle would have been towed. And when they tow your vehicle, and they discovered you were not wrong, they will ask you to pay for the towing van. Some persons are making money out of this.
“We had written to them that towing vehicles where there is no sign of no parking is oppression and that if they must tow vehicles, they should place signs in such areas. If no sign and they tow any of our member’s vehicles, we will close their office”.
