Lawyers Sues Jonathan Over Adamu Mu'azu's NIMASA Appointment

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb 15, (THEWILL) – Two lawyers from the law firm of Festus Keyamo have sued President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and three others over the appointment of indicted former Bauchi State Governor, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu as Board Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.

The plaintiffs are seeking an outright nullification of Mu’azu’s appointment.

The defendants/respondents in the suit are Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu (1st defendant), the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (2nd defendant), Attorney General of the Federation (3rd defendant and the Honourable Minister of Transport (4th defendant).

According to the originating summons obtained by THEWILL, the lawyers, Mr. Ogenovo Otemu and Mr. Alexander Oketa in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/186/2011 to be heard by Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court in Abuja, want the judge to determine “Whether the Government White Paper on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Management of some Ministries, Parastatals, Extra Ministerial Departments of the Public Service of Bauchi State from May, 1999 to May, 2007 is not a valid and binding document on all authorities and persons in Nigeria, including the Defendants, until set aside by a Court of competent jurisdiction.”

They are also want the court to determine “Whether by virtue of the Recommendations and the Bauchi State Government’s position which banned the 1st Defendant from holding public office for a period of ten years and which is contained and/or published in the Government White Paper on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Management of some Ministries, Parastatals, Extra Ministerial Departments of the Public Service of Bauchi State from May, 1999 to May, 2007, the 1st Defendant can be appointed by the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Defendants into any public office until 2019, and

“Whether the appointment of the 1st Defendant as Board Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency by 2nd Defendant is not null and void by virtue of the Recommendations and the Bauchi State Government’s position which banned the 1st Defendant from holding public office for a period of ten years and which is contained and/or published in the Government White Paper on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Management of some Ministries, Parastatals, Extra Ministerial Departments of the Public Service of Bauchi State from May, 1999 to May, 2007.”

Following Mu’azu’s indictment, the plaintiffs are seeking the following: “A declaration that the Government White Paper on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Management of some Ministries, Parastatals, Extra Ministerial Departments of the Public Service of Bauchi State from May, 1999 to May, 2007 is a valid and binding document on all authorities and persons in Nigeria, including the Defendants, until set aside by a Court of competent jurisdiction.

“A declaration that by virtue of the Recommendations and the Bauchi State Government’s position which banned the 1st Defendant from holding public office for a period of ten years and which is contained and/or published in the Government White Paper on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Management of some Ministries, Parastatals, Extra Ministerial Departments of the Public Service of Bauchi State from May, 1999 to May, 2007, the 1st Defendant cannot be appointed into any public office until 2019.

“ A declaration that the appointment of the 1st Defendant as Board Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency by the 2nd Defendant is null and void by virtue of the Recommendations and the Bauchi State Government’s position which banned the 1st Defendant from holding public office for a period of ten years and which is contained and/or published in the Government White Paper on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Management of some Ministries, Parastatals, Extra Ministerial Departments of the Public Service of Bauchi State from May, 1999 to May, 2007 and

“An order nullifying the appointment of the 1st Respondent by the 2nd Respondent as Board Chairman of the Board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency.”

No date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.