An Enugu-based activist, Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo has filed a suit at the Federal High Court Umuahia, Abia state challenging the constitutionality of the appointment of Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (rtd) as the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service by President Muhammadu Buhari.

However, Okonkwo’s suit is coming few days after Marcel Dim-Udebuani, a lawyer who hails from Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State, filed a suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/732/2015, before an Abuja Federal High Court, accusing Buhari of allegedly breaching Nigeria’s federal character principle in his appointment of persons into key positions under his administration.

Dim-Udebuani who joined the Chairman of the Federal Character Commission as the co-defendant, contended then, that the 25 appointments made so far by the President were in breach of the spirit of federal character enshrined in section 14 (3) of 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He anchored his suit on the grounds “that the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a country for all the citizens, South-East inclusive.”

Similarly, Okonkwo in the suit FHC/UM/CS/216 in which he joined the Attorney General of the federation and Ali, the plaintiff also sought the interpretation of Sections 5(1), 147(1), 148, 151 and 171(1) of the 1999 Constitution and the Custom and Excise Management Act, Cap. 45 Vol. 4LFN 2004 among others.

Okonkwo asked the court to declare that the appointment of Col. Ali (rtd) as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Services violated 5(1), 147(1), 148, 151 and 171(1) of the 1999 constitution as well as a declaration of the appointment as ‘ultra vires’ of the president’s executive powers and duties and breach of his Oath of Office.

He further asked for “a declaration that as at 27th of August 2015, when the President purportedly appointed the Col. Ali (rtd) Comptroller-General of the NCS; the President breached the statutory mandatory provision in section 147(1) of the 1999 constitution; having not appointed Minister of Finance, the 2nd defendant.

“A declaration that the appointment of Col. Ali (rtd) as the Comptroller-General of the NCS is not supported by any iota of law, and a clear violation of the Public Service Rules application to the NCS.

A declaration that there is no enabling law made by the national Assembly as the authority for the appointment of Col. Ali (rtd) as the new Comp,troller-General, NCS, his appointment by President Buhari is unconstitutional, null and void”.

"Exciting news! TheNigeriaLawyer is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest legal insights!" Click here! ....................................................................................................................... Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and other digital content on this website, in whole or in part, without express and written permission from TheNigeriaLawyer, is strictly prohibited _________________________________________________________________ [Register Now] ILA Nigeria Branch Marks 10 Years With Infrastructure Financing As Theme For 7th Annual Conference The International Law Association - Nigeria Branch 7th annual conference on public-private partnerships for sustainable infrastructure financing, April 4-5 in Abuja. Details: https://ilanigeria.org.ng/conference _________________________________________________________________

NIALS' Compendia Series: Your One-Stop Solution For Navigating Nigerian Laws (2004-2023)

Email: info@nials.edu.ng, tugomak@yahoo.co.uk, Contact: For Inquiry and information, kindly contact, NIALS Director of Marketing: +2348074128732, +2348100363602.