Incorporated Trustees of Save Nigeria Group (SNG), has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, accusing him of waging “a lopsided” anti-corruption war.
The group is praying the court to compel President Buhari to initiate criminal proceedings against the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Engr. Babachir Lawal and embattled acting Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, over their alleged complicity in acts of corruption.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1072/2016, jointly brought alongside an anti-corruption body, Kingdom Human Rights Foundation International, the plaintiffs are urging the court to invoke its original jurisdiction and compel Buhari, to immediately sack Lawal and Magu, describing their continued stay in office as a slap on the avowed anti-corruption stance of this administration.
They told the court that continued refusal by President Buhari to properly react to separate incriminating reports against Lawal and Magu, portrayed him as fighting anti-corruption war that is “lopsided, vindictive, selective and only targeted against some perceived opposition or supposed political enemies.
“That the fight against corruption of the Buhari administration must not be seen to be covering/assisting those serving under his administration to perpetrate more and worse corruption,” the plaintiffs added.
Magu and Babachir Other defendants in the suit are Lawal, Magu, the Attorney General of the Federation, Mallam Abubakar Malami, SAN, and the Senate.
Specifically, the plaintiffs are praying the court to among other things, determine; “Whether or not the indictment of the SGF, Lawal by the Senate is a sufficient and reasonable ground to warrant and compel the President to sack or suspend Lawal as the SGF or compel him to resign as the SGF pending when he is cleared of every allegation of corruption; on the ground that the President claims that his administration is fighting corruption and in view of Section 88 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“Whether or not the indictment for corruption of Lawal by the Senate should warrant his sack or suspension as the SGF by President Buhari, in other to allow the security and anti-corruption agencies investigate the allegations of corruption and prosecute anyone indicted by their investigation, in view of the ongoing fight against corruption.
In the case against Magu, the plaintiffs want the court to determine, “Whether or not the provisions of the Federal Civil Service Rules is applicable to EFCC and whether under the Federal Civil Service Rules, a person appointed in acting capacity can act in such capacity for more than six months, in view of Rules 010101, 020603 and 020604 of the Federal Civil Service Rules 2008.
“Whether or not the office of EFCC is vacant; on the ground of the Senate’s rejection of the nomination and failure to confirm Magu, who has been acting in that capacity for more than six months.
And, “Whether or not the appointment of Magu, who has been acting in that capacity for more than six months is illegal, null and void on the ground of non-provisions and recognition of an acting Chairman in the entire provisions of EFCC (Establishment) Act.”
Meanwhile, the suit is yet to be assigned to a judge for hearing.