http://www.businessdayonline.com/NG/index.php/news/76-hot-topic/18247-fg-dragged-to-court-over-muazus-appointment-



The Federal Government has been dragged to court over the appointment of Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu as Chairman, Board of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

Oghenovo Otemu and Alexander Oketa from Festus Keyamo Chamber, in a suit filed before a federal high court in Abuja, said Muazu had been banned from holding public office for ten years by a Government White Paper on the Report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Management of some Ministries, Parastatals and Extra Ministerial Departments of the Public Service of Bauchi State from May, 1999 to May, 2007.

The plaintiffs are therefore asking the court to nullify the appointment of Muazu as Board Chairman of the Agency.

Joined in the suit as co-defendants are Ahmadu Adamu Mu’azu himself, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Transport

The plaintiffs want the court 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:

“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”.

They also want the court to determine “whether the appointment of the 1st Defendant as Board Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency by the 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”.

They are therefore seeking reliefs, among which includes: “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”.