Leaders from southern and middle-belt regions in Nigeria – including Ijaw leader, Edwin Clarke – have sued President Muhammadu Buhari for N50 billion over marginalisation of the people of the region in the appointments to security, quasi-security agencies and “strategic agencies” of government.
Among the 16 plaintiffs in the suit are the leaders of socio-cultural groups such as Afenifere and Ohaneze Ndigbo, Reuben Fasoranti and John Nwodo respectively.
Others are a leader of the middle belt people, Pogu Bitrus; Ayo Adebanjo; Alaowei Bozimo; Sarah Doketri; Chukwuemeka Ezeife; Air Commodore Idongsit Nkanga; a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele; Prof Julie Umukoro; Stephen Bangoji; Tijani Babatunde; Rose Obuoforibo; Adakole Ijogi; and Charles Nwakeaku.
The suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2020 was filed on June 8 at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Named alongside the president as defendants are the Federal Republic of Nigeria; the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami; the Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori; and the Federal Character Commission.
The suit was instituted on behalf of the defendants by 10 senior lawyers comprising Solomon Asemota, Tijani Ayanlaja, Chuks Muoma, Albert Akpomudje, Tayo Oyetibo, Pius Akubo, Nella Andem-Rabana, Mike Ozekhome, Akinpelu Onigbinde, and Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa.
