In a significant legal ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit brought forth by the Seventh Day Adventist Church (SDA), which sought to halt the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays.
Presiding Judge James Omotoso delivered the verdict on Wednesday, labeling the suit as “frivolous, vexatious, irritating, baseless, and devoid of merit.”
Justice Omotoso emphasized that the fundamental rights purportedly claimed by the Church were not under threat and could not be curtailed by government policies.
The court further noted that the Seventh Day Adventist Church represents a minority religious denomination in Nigeria and cannot impose its religious doctrine on the majority of other religious groups in the country.
The suit, initiated by the SDA, argued that Saturday constitutes their Sabbath day of worship and that conducting elections and examinations on this day violates the fundamental rights of its members.
Despite the SDA’s plea to prohibit the Federal Government from scheduling such activities on Saturdays to preserve their right to worship, the court ruled against the motion.
The dismissal of the suit signifies a legal precedent affirming the secular nature of Nigeria’s governance system and upholds the principle of religious neutrality in public affairs.
