Abuja lawyer drags Buhari to court over ‘lopsided’ appointments

       Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari has been dragged to court over the 25 appointments he made so far which excluded the South East geopolitical zone.

Dim-Udebuani Marcel, an Abuja-based lawyer in suit no. FHC/ABJ/CS/732/2015 he instituted against the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Chairman, Federal Character Commission filed on 31st August, 2015, by his counsel Jude Ifesemen, the plaintiff wants the court to determine whether the total of over 25 appointments made so far by President Buhari is not against the spirit of section 14(3) of 1999 constitution as amended.

“Whether the exclusion of South East geo-political zone in the 25 appointments made so far by the 1st defendant is unconstitutional and divisive? “Whether there are no qualified and credible or corrupt free persons from the entire South East zone?

“Whether the 2nd defendant has in the circumstance of this case, discharged its statutory duties under paragraph 8(1), (a), (b) and (c) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended)”.

The plaintiff prayed the court for an order compelling the 1st defendant (Buhari) to reverse the appointments so far made to observe and comply with the principle of Federal Character as enshrined in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).

He also sought an order of court compelling the 2nd defendant (Chairman, Federal Character Commission) to invoke paragraph 8(1) (c) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 constitution (as amended) and order of court declaring all the appointments so far made null and void for violation of the principle of Federal Character enshrined in the constitution.

The suit was supported with 23 paragraph affidavit deposed to by the plaintiff, Marcel.

No date has been fixed for the matter.