By Milcah Tanimu

A suit filed by Ugochukwu Uchenwa, an elder of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, seeking to halt the scheduling of elections and examinations on Saturdays, has been dismissed by the Federal High Court in Abuja. Uchenwa argued that this practice violated his rights and those of fellow church members to freedom of worship. While the court acknowledged Uchenwa’s jurisdiction and standing to bring the case, it deemed the suit frivolous and baseless, asserting that government policy cannot curtail fundamental rights. Despite recognizing some aspects of the suit, the court ultimately declined to enforce the rights of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, citing their minority status in Nigeria. Uchenwa’s legal counsel expressed disagreement with the ruling and intends to appeal the decision.