Court Voids Buhari’s Appointment Of The FCC Chairman And Secretary

Court Voids Buhari’s Appointment Of The FCC Chairman And Secretary

It should be recalled that Buhari who served out his two terms of eight years in office in May 29, 2023 and handed over to his successor, President Bola Tinubu, had in April 2020 appointed 38 people, including the chairperson and secretary, to the board of the FCC.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja has declared the appointment of the Federal Character Commission Chairperson, Muheeba Dankaka, and Secretary, Bello Tukur, by former President Muhammadu Buhari as illegal and unlawful.

Sequel to the illegal appointment of the duo in flagrant violation of the Section 7 and 8 (1) & (2) a,b,c of the third Schedule, Part 1 of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (Amended) and other provisions of the laws of the country Festus Onifade dragged Buhari and former Attorney-General of the Federation to challenge the appointment of Dankaka and Tukur.

According to PUNCH, FCC, Dankaka, and Tukur were joined as third, fourth, and fifth defendants, respectively, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/709/2021 .

Onifade argued that the former President’s appointment of Dankaka and Tukur, both from the North Central, was in violation of the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Act of National Assembly.

He sought a declaration that the president (1st defendant) is bound to observe and comply with the provision of Sectons 7 and 8 (1), (2) (a) (b) (c) of the Third Schedule, part 1 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) in the appointment of persons to the office of the chairman and Secretary of FCC.

He sought an order directing the president to immediately dissolve and reconstitute the FCC’s board in accordance with the laws.

Delivering judgment on the matter on Wednesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo held that the former President did not comply with the provisions of the Constitution and the FCC Act in the appointment of Tukur and Dankaka.