Fasoranti, Clarke, Nwodo, 13 others lead legal charge.
Elders and leaders of the major socio-cultural groups from Nigeria’s Southern and Middle-belt geographicallgeographical blocs have sued the country’s President, Muhammadu Buhari and Attorney-General, Abubakar Malami for N50 billion over the unbridled policy of marginalisation of the people of the regions in the appointments to security, quasi-security and “strategic agencies” of government.
Numbering 16, the plaintiffs filed the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2020, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 8, 2020.
Listed mong the plaintiffs are prominent Ijaw leader, Chief E. K Clarke; the Afenifere leader representing the Yoruba ethnic nationality, Chief Reuben Fasoranti; President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the umbrella body of all Igbos, Dr John Nwodo; a leader of the Middle Belt people, Dr. Pogu Bitrus.
Also suing as joint parties are Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alaowei Bozimo, Mrs Sarah Dokotri, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Prof Julie Umukoro, and Elder Stephen Bangoji.
Others are Alhaji Tijani Babatunde, Mrs Rose Obuoforibo, Mr Adakole Ijogi, and Dr. Charles Nwakeaku.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, Buhari, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori and the Federal Character Commission are the defendants sued in the suit.
The suit was instituted on behalf of the defendants by 10 Senior Advocates of Nigeria comprising Solomon Asemota, Tijani Ayanlaja, Chuks Muoma, Albert Akpomudje, Tayo Oyetibo, Pius Akubo, Mrs Nella Andem-Rabana, Mike Ozekhome, Akinpelu Onigbinde, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.
