Anti-religious bill unlawful –Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has warned that any attempt to stop freedom of worship would amount to an unlawful conduct.

Speaking at the First National Judicial Roundtable in Abuja, yesterday, Prof. Osinbajo noted that freedom of speech and worship were closely linked and inseparable.

He delivered his address on the theme of the one day conference tagged: ‘The intersection between law and religion: World perspectives.’

Osinbajo said: “I am of the view that prior restraint to freedom of worship is open to abuse and will unduly restrict freedom of worship, and it is probably unconstitutional.

“Freedom of speech is not only a fundamental right in its own right, but, also the vehicle for realisation of other rights.”

The vice president, however, pointed out that multi-religious and multi-ethnic societies must accept the arbitration of law and its religiously neutral institutions for the maintenance of peaceful co-existence. “A secular state, where freedom of religion is allowed and rigorously protected, is fundamental to an orderly society. Law and religion must protect the fundamental and inalienable rights of every person to life in all its social and political implications. The laws must, however, be enforced to punish offensive conducts such as the dissemination of hate speech or perpetration of unlawful acts under the guise of religious beliefs,” Osinbajo declared.

The vice president, who is a professor of law and a pastor explained: “There is no question, at all, that there are important intersections between law, as an instrument of social control and religion, especially, in so far as it tends to define moral parameters and borders. He submitted that most legal systems draw  substance from formal religious systems, adding that despite these obvious intersections between law and religion, both systems have their own sources and ‘structures’ of authority.

In a keynote address, Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed said the conference was a veritable opportunity for participants and the citizenry to rekindle the fire of patriotism and nationalism, which were hallmarks of the country. The CJN, who was represented by Justice Kekere Ekun, noted that the nation “is beset by a myriad of socio-economic, political and ethno-religious conflicts that, persistently, challenge the resilienc and fortitude of our national unity.”

Earlier in her welcome address, administrator of the National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice Roseline Bozimo (rt.), said the roundtable was coordinated by the judicial institute in furtherance of its mandate.

The event was attended by top legal luminaries, jurist, judicial officers, academics and religious leaders, as well as members of the international community.

of capacity-building for judicial officers and their support staff.

“This gathering is significant as well as symbolic because the twin concepts of law and religion affect every person, society and government. Law and religion seek to establish standards for the

purpose of creating avenues for peaceful co-existence between persons, groups and government of nations,” Justice Bozimo submitted.

DAILY SUN