A lawyer, Mr. Francis Moneke, has filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari for allegedly ignoring the principle of federal character in the appointment of security chiefs.
The lawyer, in his suit, accused the President of being nepotistic in his key appointments by allegedly favouring northerners.
Moneke claimed that “the pattern of appointments of key and strategic security, intelligence and law enforcement office-holders, clearly shows favouritism and nepotism on the part of the 1st respondent (Buhari) in favour of the people from the northern part of the country where he comes from, against me and people from the southern part of the country, especially the South-East, where I come from.”
He claimed to have been put at a disadvantage on account of the alleged nepotism on the part of the President.
He argued that with the alleged nepotism, the President had violated his (Moneke’s) fundamental right to freedom from discrimination guaranteed under Section 42 (1) & (2) of the Constitution and Article 2 of the African Charter on Human & Peoples’ Rights (Ratification & Enforcement) Act Cap A9, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Joined as second respondent in the suit is the Attorney of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN).
In his supporting affidavit, Moneke said, “I am aware that nepotism and tribalism are species of corruption, which jeopardise fairness, objectivity and equity and that when employed as an official strategy in government it compromises inclusivity, effectiveness, efficiency, professionalism, competence, the spirit of national unity and sense of belonging.”
The lawyer is praying the court to compel the President to “change the current skewed structure of top federal security and law enforcement appointees by appointing some candidates from the South-East into such positions.”
He wants to court to perpetually restrain the President from further shunning the principle of federal character in his appointments.
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