Kaduna Religious Bill Contemptious, Unconstitutional – Barr. Ballason
A human rights activist, Gloria Mabeiam Ballason Esq, has described the move to sign the controversial religious preaching regulation bill into law as contemptuous and unconstitutional.
The lawyer who is also the Principal Partner of Mive legals at House of Justice said Kaduna state government was in contempt because the matter is before a high court presided by Hon. Justice Hajaratu Gwadah who issued an order of restraint on the bill until the matter is fully determined.
‘The law in itself is as needless as it is unconstitutional’, Ballason said. “The law seeks to give the powers to regulate preaching to people with political authority, how will their competence be determined? The Law also seeks to legislate on acts that have already been covered by existing laws this will certainly lead to a conflict of laws.
What is even more worrisome is that the law is likely to infringe on the rights to religion, expression and association of the people. Rather than dissipate energy on this controversial law, Kaduna state government should invest in redeeming its image on poor human rights record of mass atrocities, arbitrary arrests and hostility to the press,” the legal practitioner said.
