President Muhammadu Buhari has been sued by one Daniel Makolo, a lawyer to court.
The President was sued for allegedly failing to appoint a minister to represent Kogi in his cabinet.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, Mr. Makolo said his suit
FHCLCS442016 at the Federal High Court, Lokoja on Thursday was pursuant
to Order 34 Rule (1) and Order 5 Rule (1) of the Federal High Court
(Civil Procedure) Rules 2009.
He queried the absence of Kogi representative in the Federal Executive Council meeting since March.
He faulted President Buhari for failing to appoint a replacement
for James Ocholi, former Minister of State for Labour and Employment,
who died in a car accident.
Mr. Ocholi, his wife and son, died in an auto crash on Abuja-Kaduna Road on March 6.
Mr. Makolo, among others, urged the court to order that the failure
of Buhari to appoint a qualified indigene of Kogi as a Minister after
Mr. Ocholi’s death was “wrongful, unlawful and unconstitutional”.
He said that failure to appoint a minister from Kogi “is an
attempt to and has denied the people of Kogi state representation at the
statutory mandatory regular meetings held by the president with his
vice and ministers”.
The lawyer asked the court to issue an Order of Mandamus compelling
the president to appoint a minister representing the people of Kogi
from amongst the indigenes of the state.
Mr. Makolo also asked the court to declare every decision or
resolution reached at statutory meeting(s) held as void to the extent of
its effect on the life and property of the people of Kogi.
He further asked the court to void the resolution reached at
subsequent meeting to be held by the president and his cabinet without a
representative of Kogi People,
He also asked for an order of mandamus compelling the president to
respect and apply Section 14 (3) of the Constitution in all his
appointments.
This, according to him, is inclusive of the Heads coercive forces
of the sovereignty of Nigeria, the paramilitary agencies, and all
arm-bearing institutions of Nigeria.
In addition, the applicant sought an order directing the
Attorney-General of the Federation to initiate and carry out a corona
inquest into the death of Mr. Ocholi to uncover the cause of the
accident.
Mr. Makolo said he based his action on 14 grounds in the Motion on Notice, supported by a 24-paragraph affidavit.
He said the appointment of a minister to represent each of the 36
federating states was not optional but also the responsibility of the
president.
“This is not an optional responsibility; it is mandatory which
our beloved President has deliberately failed, neglected or refused to
do in respect of Kogi State and her people,” he said.
Joined in the suit are the president of the Senate and the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
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