Some Akwa Ibom state based lawyers have dragged President Buhari to a Federal High court in Uyo over the non-appointment of an indigene of Akwa Ibom as managing director of NDDC.
Senator Bukola Saraki and Honorable Yakubu Dogara are also respondents in the suit
The lawyers, Aniekan Akpan, Essien Obong, Akpadiaha Ebitu and Emmanuel Ukor, chairmen of Uyo, Ikot Ekpene, Eket and Oron branches of the Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, respectively described as unlawful, the appointment of a non-indigene of Akwa Ibom State after the termination of the appointment of immediate past Managing Director, Mr Dan Abia on December 21, 2015, the Vanguard reports.
Citing relevant sections of the NDDC Act, the plaintiffs in the suit are, therefore, seeking a declaration “that the premature termination of Dan Abia’s appointment as MD of NDDC by the President before the end of the four-year tenure allocated to Akwa Ibom State is unlawful and a gross violation of the people’s right.
They are also asking the court to declare that “Semenetari’s appointment is illegal and a gross violation of the right of Akwa Ibom people, particularly lawyers of Akwa Ibom origin, and equally a violation of the principles of proportional sharing of bureaucratic offices as enshrined in the Federal Character Commission Act Cap F7 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.”
They are also seeking an order of the court compelling the President to “Immediately appoint any Akwa Ibom State indigene as “Acting” Managing Director or alternatively, the Managing Director of NDDC and present him to the National Assembly for confirmation to complete the four years tenure of office allocated to the state.