Socio-cultural leaders from south, middle-belt, others slam N50b suit on Buhari
Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari attends the opening of the 56th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Abuja, Nigeria, December 21, 2019. REUTERS/Afolabi Sotunde - RC2OZD93GM18
Prominent socio-cultural leaders from southern and middle-belt Nigeria have filed N50 billion suit against President Muhammadu Buhari over marginalization of the people of the region in the appointments to security, quasi-security agencies and “strategic agencies” of government.
The 16 plaintiffs filed the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2020, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 8, 2020.
Among the plaintiffs are, an Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin K. Clarke, the Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr John Nwodo, a leader of the Middle Belt people, Dr. Pogu Bitrus.
They also include, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alaowei Bozimo, Mrs Sarah Doketri, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Air Commodore Idongsit Nkanga, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Prof Julie Umukoro.
Others are Elder Stephen Bangoji, Alhaji Tijani Babatunde, Mrs Rose Obuoforibo, Mr Adakole Ijogi and Dr. Charles Nwakeaku.
Defendants sued in the suit include: The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori and the Federal Character Commission.
The suit was instituted on behalf of the defendants by 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria comprising Solomon Asemota, Tijani Ayanlaja, Chuks Muoma, Albert Akpomudje, Tayo Oyetibo, Pius Akubo, Mrs Nella Andem-Rabana, Mike Ozekhome, Akinpelu Onigbinde, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.
The skewed appointments, in favor of the core North is really worrisome. The President can still allay their fears, by re-jiging his appointments, so as not to lay a bad presidence.