March 22, 2012 by Ade Adesomoju 29 Comments
Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Gabriel Amalu, has asked a Federal High Court, Lagos to stop the operations of three task forces of the petroleum ministry set up by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

One of the task forces, Ministerial Committee on Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force, is headed by former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

The others are Ministerial Committee on Governance and Control Task Force, headed by Dotun Suleman, and the Ministerial Committee on National Refineries Special Task Force, whose Chairman is Dr. Idika Kalu.

Amalu, in a supporting affidavit, stated that the suit was informed by the need to stem the conduct and acts of the Petroleum Minister.

The plaintiff noted that the setting up of the committees was an unconstitutional transfer of the powers of the Petroleum Minister and that of other agencies and parastatals of the ministry.

According to Amalu, section 5(1) of the Constitution and Section 12 of the Petroleum Act, Cap P10, Laws of Nigeria 2004, stipulates the responsibilities of the Minister of Petroleum and other agencies and parastatals in the petroleum ministry.

He maintained that such duties were not meant to be delegated.

Amalu, in a notice for interlocutory reliefs pending the determination of the substantive suit sought the court’s interim order restraining the said committees from exercising the functions of the minister and those of parastatals of the Ministry as provided for in relevant laws.

http://www.punchng.com/news/lawyer-moves-to-stop-ribadu-committee-others/

Enemies of Nigerians at work

Goodluck to him.
Of course we all know nothing good can come out of those committees.
All na to chop money and give fake accounts!

Court strikes out suit against Ribadu committee, others

A Federal High Court, Lagos has cleared a legal hurdle that could impede the operations of the committees set up by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, to carry out some reforms in the petroleum industry.

One of the committees is the Petroleum Revenue Task Force, headed by a former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

Justice Mojisola Ishola-Olatoregun on Tuesday struck out a suit challenging the propriety of the committees and the powers of the minister to set them up.

The PRTF was constituted following widespread allegation of fraud in the amount expended on fuel subsidy in 2011.

The two other committees that their existence is being challenged are Governance Control Task Force, headed by Dotun Suleman; and National Refineries Special Task Force, headed by Dr. Idika Kalu.

Gabriel Amalu, a Lagos-based lawyer, had instituted the suit, contending that the the committees existence amounted to an unconstitutional delegation of the powers of the minister and those of the agencies and other parastatals in the ministry to “quasi-committees”

He had also asked the court to give an order restraining the operations of the committees.

Olatoregun-Ishola struck out the matter on Tuesday due to lack of diligent prosecution.

The striking out of the matter for lack of diligence was on the grounds that all the parties in the suit and their counsel were absent at Tuesday’s proceedings.

The plaintiff had said Alison-Madueke set up the committees to deal with “fundamental issues” and to make “sweeping reforms” in the petroleum industry when those charged with the responsibilities are not public officers.

Joined as parties in the suit were the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Bello Adoke, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Alison-Madueke and heads of each of the committees.

The plaintiff had contended that the setting up of the committee infringed on the ministerial powers of Hononourable Minister of Petroleum Resources Provided by section 5(1) of the Constitution as amended and section 13 of the Petroleum Act Cap P10 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.