Seventh Day Adventist Church Suit Dismissed: Election Exams to Continue on Saturdays

Justice James Kolawole Omotoso of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit brought against the Federal Government by the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Nigeria, seeking to prohibit the conduct of elections and examinations on Saturdays in Nigeria.

The suit, deemed frivolous, vexatious, irritating, and baseless by the Judge, was brought by the church on the grounds that Saturday is its Sabbath day of worship, and conducting elections and examinations on Saturdays violates the fundamental rights of its members.

In his judgment on Wednesday, Justice Omotoso held that the fundamental rights claimed by the church cannot be curtailed by government policy. He also stated that the Seventh Day Adventist Church, being in the minority in Nigeria, cannot impose its doctrine on the majority of other religious denominations in the country.

The dismissal of the suit means that elections and examinations will continue to be conducted on Saturdays in Nigeria, despite the objections raised by the Seventh Day Adventist Church.