Lawyer Drags President Buhari To Court

A lawyer, Mr. Francis Moneke, has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari for alleged nepotism in his key appointments.

The lawyer, according to Punch, accused Buhari of favouring the northerners at the expense of the southerners.

Moneke said, “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.

“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.”

He further argued that the alleged favouritism and nepotism by the president 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.

The lawyer prayed that the court to compel the president to act in line with the principle of federal character in his appointment and “change the current skewed structure of top federal security and law enforcement appointees by appointing some candidates from the South-East into such positions.”