CHURCHES TAKE EL-RUFAI TO COURT OVER THE RESTRICTION ON PREACHING

The PFN has asked the High Court to declare as null and void a bill which seeks to regulate preaching in Kaduna state.The religious body suggests the bill is contrary to the fundamental rights  guaranteed under sections of the Nigerian constitution

Governor El-Rufai has forwarded a bill to the Kaduna state House of Assembly which seeks to regulate preaching.

The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) has dragged Governor Nasir El-Rufai and two others before the High Court in Kaduna state over a controversial executive bill before the Kaduna state House of Assembly.

Vanguard reports that the PFN which is made up of all Pentecostal churches in Nigeria has asked the court to declare as null and void the bill which seeks to strengthen a moribund 1984 Kaduna s tate law that regulates preaching in the state.

The case was filed by President of PFN, Professor (Rev) Femi Ehinmidu, through the counsel of PFN, Sunday Akani on August 12, 2016.

The case which came up for hearing on Tuesday, November 29, also joined Kaduna state House of Assembly and attorney general of the state in the suit.

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The PFN is seeking the enforcement of its fundamental rights: “As guaranteed under Sections 38(1), 39(1), 40(1), and 42(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended and under the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights.”