Otu Oka-Iwu Abuja Branch Threatens To Sue PTDF Over Exclusion Of South-East Region From PTDF Scholarship Exam

*Describes Exclusion As Unconstitutional And Discriminatory
*Says South-East Is Not The Only Region Experiencing Insecurity; Gives PTDF 48 hours To Retract Exclusion

An Association of legal practitioners of Igbo extraction called the Otu Oka-iwu Abuja (mainly domiciled in South East Region) duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission whose mandates include the protection of the civil rights of the people of the South East and guiding against any form of discrimination, has issued a preaction notice to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) stating that intends to take legal action against the body as regards the unconstitutional and discriminatory exclusion of the South East Region ad one of the host regions for the conduct of interview for the 2022/2023 overseas scholarship scheme, if PTDF fails to reverse their decision and tender apology.

In the notice made available to TheNigeriaLawyer signed by the President, Secretary, Chairman, Federal Character/Public Interest Committee and Secretary, Federal Character Monitoring/Public Interest Committee, Barr. Ejiofor Onwuaso, Dr. Nicholas Udeb, Barr. Agams Udebuani, and Barr. Obioma Ezenwobodo respectively, and dated 10^th June, 2022 the Out Oka-Iwu Abuja stated that it was relying on its mandate to challenge the actions of the PTDF.

According to the association, the actions of PTDF had no logical basis or reasoning to back it up, as the reasoning they relied on – which is insecurity in the region – is faulty. The notice read in part thus:

“We wish to remind you that the issue of insecurity is not only prevalent in the South East Region but much widespread in other regions of the country where the PTDF is comfortably conducting same interview. The reliance on the excuse of insecurity frontally flies against logic as your regional office in South East Region, Public and Private educational institutions in South East Region and other examination bodies (including JAMB and WAEC) are fully functional and none suspended operations.”

According to the Association, the actions of PTDF was not only illegal and unconstitutional but an abuse of fundamental rights. The letter stated thus;

“We equally wish to remind you that your policy of excluding the South East Region will not only cause untold hardship to applicants of Igbos of South East extraction but amounts to an illegal and unconstitutional act as it offends the Federal Character Principle and the fundamental rights against discrimination of any form.”

The Association went on to lay her demand thus:

1. An immediate reversal of the injurious, illegal, discriminatory and unconstitutional policy of excluding the South East Region as one of the venues for the conduct of PTDF interview.
2. Inclusion of the South East Region as one of the venues for the conduct of the PTDF interview.
3. To tender public apology to be published in five national dailies, electronic and other media.

The body went on to give PTDF a 48 hours ultimatum to heed their demand or face legal action.