…demand N50bn compensation for marginalisation
Sixteen leaders of socio-cultural groups from the South and Middle Belt have dragged President Muhammdu Buhari to court over alleged marginalisation of the people of their regions in appointment into government, asking N50billion compensation.
The leaders are accusing President Buhari of marginalising their people in his appointments into the security, paramilitary and ‘strategic agencies’ of government.
The 16 plaintiffs filed the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2020, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 8, 2020.
Among the plaintiffs are an Ijaw leader, Chief E. K Clarke; the Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr John Nwodo, and a leader of the Middle Belt people, Dr. Pogu Bitrus.
Others included Dr Pogu Bitrus, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alaowei Bozimo, Mrs Sarah Doketri, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Air Commodore Idongsit Nkanga; a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; Prof Julie Umukoro, and Elder Stephen Bangoji.
The rest are Alhaji Tijani Babatunde, Mrs Rose Obuoforibo, Mr Adakole Ijogi, and Dr. Charles Nwakeaku.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori and the Federal Character Commission are the defendants sued in the suit.
The suit was instituted on behalf of the defendants by 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria comprising Solomon Asemota, Tijani Ayanlaja, Chuks Muoma, Albert Akpomudje, Tayo Oyetibo, Pius Akubo, Mrs Nella Andem-Rabana, Mike Ozekhome, Akinpelu Onigbinde, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.