Melaye sues Gbaja over bill seeking compulsory vaccination for infectious diseases

Dino Melaye, a former senator from Kogi state, has sued Femi Gbajabiamila, speaker of the house of representatives, over a bill which seeks compulsory vaccination for every Nigerian child against some infectious diseases.

In the suit filed at the federal high court in Abuja on Monday, the former senator sought the protection of his fundamental rights over the infectious diseases control bill.

He is seeking the enforcement of his rights to “the dignity of person, personal liberty, right to private and family life, right to freedom of movement and right to own immovable property in Nigeria” which he argues the bill threatens.

Melaye, who announced the court action via Twitter, described the proposed law as a “wicked bill.”

COVID-19 VACCINE: I have just filed a court action against the Speaker and House of Representatives on the wicked bill initiated by Hon Femi Gbajabiamila this morning at the Federal High Court Abuja. We shall overcome.
-Distinguished Senator Dino Melaye pic.twitter.com/qilvghpdYM

— Senator Dino Melaye. (SDM) (@_dinomelaye) May 4, 2020

TheCable had filed a report on  the provisions of the new bill which seeks to repeal the quarantine act of 1926 and provide new regulations that would enable Nigeria to manage situations like the coronavirus pandemic.

The proposed legislation, which has passed second reading, was sponsored by Gbajabiamila and two other lawmakers: Pascal Obi and Tanko Sununu.

Although the bill is yet to be considered by the senate before being sent to the president for assent, TheCable findings showed that apart from the issues of human rights concern such as arbitrary arrests, it also gives the director-general of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the minister of health powers without adequate checks.

It also enables the minister of health to declare “any premises” as an isolation centre and empowers the police and health officers to do whatever that is necessary” to enforce some provisions.