… Wants Court to reverse appointments made so far
Following what he considers lopsided appointment of 27 political appointees by President Muhammadu Buhari, a lawyer, Dim-Udebuani Marcel has dragged the President before a Federal High Court, Abuja.
In a response last week-end, special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, admitted that the appointments were lopsided with a promise that the president will soon balance the appointments.
The plaintiff in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/732/2015, joined the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC) as 2nd defendant.
In an originating summons dated and filed on August 31, 2015, the plaintiff set out four questions for the court’s determination:
“Whether the total of the 25 appointments so far made by the 1st respondent (President Buhari) is not against the spirit of Section 14 (3) of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Whether the exclusion of South-east geo-political zone in the 25 appointments made so far by the 1st defendant is unconstitutional and divisive among others.
Marcel also prayed the court for “an order compelling the President Buhari to reverse the appointments so far made as well as to observe and comply with the principle of Federal Character as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended).
“An order of this court compelling the 2nd defendant (FCC) to invoke paragraph 8 (1) (C) of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“An order of court declaring all the appointments so far made null and void for violation of the principle of Federal Character enshrined in our constitution aforesaid.”
The plaintiff equally set out several grounds for the reliefs sought.
“That the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country for all the citizens, South-east inclusive.
“That the 2nd defendant is a creation of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“That the entire five (5) states that make up South-east geo-political zone has no appointment yet.
He contended that the North-east, North-west, North-central, South-west and South-south have had representations in the appointments made so far.
In affidavit in support of the originating summons, the plaintiff said he swore to defend and protect the nation’s constitution, contending that the suit bothers on constitutional breach, adding that the constitution ought to be obeyed all appointments.
Marcel averred that it is in the best interest of justice and promotion of rule of law that the lopsided appointments should be discouraged by granting all the prayers before the court.
No date has been fixed for the hearing of the case.
