Lol! Read why this lawyer dragged Federal government of Nigeria to court

Yesterday, Chief Malcom Omirhobo, asked a Federal High Court Lagos, to declare as unlawful, rescheduling of public holidays. The defendants in the suit are: the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Interior.

The plaintiff’s suit is brought pursuant to the provisions of order 3 rules six, seven and eight of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure rules of 2009. Omirhobo is seeking an interpretation, as to whether in the face of the Public Holidays Act of 1979, it is legal for the defendants to reschedule public holidays from Saturdays or Sundays to Monday.

The plaintiff seeks an interpretation whether it is lawful for the defendant to even extend public holidays beyond the days set out for them. Omirhobo seeks the following interpretations: “Whether it is lawful for the defendants to have declared May 2 (Monday) as public holidays for the celebration of worker’s day, instead of May 1 (Sunday).

“Whether it is lawful to have declared May 30 (Monday) as public holidays for the celebration of Nigeria’s Democracy day, instead of May 29 (Sunday). “Whether it is lawful to have extended the Eid-el-fitri celebration beyond July 5 and 6, to July 7, making the holidays three days in a roll.

“Whether it is lawful to have declared October 3 (Monday) as public holidays for the celebration of Nigeria’s 56th independence, instead of October 1 (Saturday) for which it was originally scheduled.”

The plaintiff therefore, seeks a declaration, that the public holidays Act, is the law guiding the declaration of public holidays in Nigeria, and any declaration of public holidays without compliance with the Act, is unlawful and void. .

Omirhobo now seeks a court order, compelling the defendants not to declare October 2, 2017 (Monday) as public holidays for the celebration of Nigeria’s 57th independence, in place of October 1, 2017 (Sunday).