Tinubu, AGF, and Musawa taken to court over ministerial appointment

In a potentially game-changing legal challenge, Chief (Dr) Patrick Eholor and Thomas Markus of Concerned Nigeria have filed a lawsuit against the President of Nigeria, the Attorney General of the Federation, and the Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy, Mrs Hannatu Musawa.

The plaintiffs are seeking a court order to overturn Mrs Musawa’s appointment as minister, saying that her current status as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) violates the rules of the NYSC Act and Bye-Laws.

“Mrs Musawa’s appointment violates the provisions of the NYSC Act and the Bye-Laws.” “We believe that her status as a corps member disqualifies her from holding the office of Federal Minister,” said Ihensekhien Samuel Jnr, the plaintiffs’ lawyer.

The action, filed in the Federal High Court of Nigeria in Abuja, concerns whether Mrs Musawa, as a current NYSC corps member, is barred from becoming a Federal Minister under the provisions of sections 2(1) and (3) of the NYSC Act and section 4(9) of the NYSC Bye-Laws (Revised 2011).

The plaintiffs are also questioning the constitutional requirements for appointment as a Federal Minister.

In addition to invalidating Mrs Musawa’s appointment and swearing-in, the plaintiffs are seeking an injunction to prevent her from carrying out any official actions in her role as Minister.

They are also seeking general damages of 1,000,000 (One Million Naira) against all defendants, as well as an extra 1,000,000 (One Million Naira) for litigation costs.

Furthermore, the plaintiffs have warned that if the defendants do not react within thirty days of the summons’ service, they would ask the judge to make whatever orders he deems just and expeditious.

The case is expected to have far-reaching repercussions for how the NYSC Act and Bye-Laws are interpreted, as well as the constitutional prerequisites for ministerial appointments in Nigeria.