Some eminent leaders from southern and middle-belt regions of Nigeria have dragged President Muhammadu Buhari to court, seeking N50 billion compensation, over marginalisation of the people of the region in the appointments to security, quasi-security agencies and “strategic agencies” of his government.
The 16 plaintiffs filed the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2020, at the Federal High Court in Abuja on June 8, 2020.
Among the plaintiffs were an Ijaw leader, Chief E. K Clarke, Afenifere leader, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr. John Nwodo, a leader of the Middle Belt people, Dr. Pogu Bitrus.
They also included Dr Pogu Bitrus, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Alaowei Bozimo, Mrs. Sarah Doketri, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife, Air Commodore Idongsit Nkanga (rtd), a former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Kofoworola Bucknor-Akerele, Prof. Julie Umukoro and Elder Stephen Bangoji.
The rest were Alhaji Tijani Babatunde, Mrs. Rose Obuoforibo, Mr. Adakole Ijogi, and Dr. Charles Nwakeaku.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria, President 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 (FCC) are the defendants 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.