FCC Chair, Secretary: Lawyer urges President Tinubu to enforce Court Judgement

An Abuja based legal practitioner, Mr Festus Onifade, has called onPresident Bola Tinubu, to correct the appointment of the Federal Character Commission (FCC)’s chairman and secretary by the previous government. This was contained in a certified true copy of a letter to President Tinubu, in Abuja, Wednesday, that was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Sen. George Akume, and Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. On April 28, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Muheeba Dankaka as FCC chairman for a five-year tenure and was confirmed by the Senate on June 2, 2020. Buhari also approved the appointment of Bello Tukur as FCC’s secretary on April 14, 2017, and was reappointed on March 12, 2021, for a term of four years.While Dankaka is from Kwara, Tukur hails from Taraba; the duo coming from the northern geopolitical zone. Meanwhile, in a letter dated Jan. 16 and titled: “Appeal to Mr President to Safeguard the Integrity of Federal Character Commission,” the constitutional lawyer prayed the president to give effect to the court judgment. The letter reads; “It is against this background that we make this appeal to you sir to give effect to the judgement of the court by appointing persons from different geo-political zones who will represent the diversity recognized in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended). “Mr. President sir, it may not have come to notice that the morale of staff is at all-time low and this singular incident has caused a lot of resentment among staff of the commission. “This is particularly because the commission itself is guilty of the infractions it was constitutional and statutory created to remedy.“Sir like the popular saying ‘remove the log in your eyes, before the log in mine.’ Mr. President Sir, your timely intervention will remedy this anomaly and restore the commission back to performing its constitutional and statutory functions efficiently. “It will also restore confidence of Nigerians in this administration as a government of inclusion, endearing hope in governance, and giving every Nigerian a sense of belonging.” Onifade, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/709/2021, sued the president, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), FCC, Dankaka and Tukur as 1st to 5th defendants respectively at the Federal High Court, Abuja. In the originating summons dated and filed on July 19, 2021, the lawyer sought a declaration that “the president is bound to observe and comply with the provision of Sections 7 and 8 (1), (2) (a) (b) (c) of the Third Schedule, part 1 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) in the appointment of persons to the office of the Chairman and Secretary of FCC.” He also sought an order directing the president to immediately dissolve and reconstitute the FCC’s board in accordance with the laws. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his judgment on Nov. 22, 2023, declared that the appointment of Dankaka and Tukur from the northern region was unlawful. FCC Chair, Secretary: Lawyer urges President Tinubu to enforce Court Judgement By Vivian Michael, Abuja An Abuja based legal practitioner, Mr Festus Onifade, has called on President Bola Tinubu, to correct the appointment of the Federal Character Commission (FCC)’s chairman and secretary by the previous government. This was contained in a certified true copy of a letter to President Tinubu, in Abuja, Wednesday, that was copied to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. Sen. George Akume, and Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. On April 28, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Muheeba Dankaka as FCC chairman for a five-year tenure and was confirmed by the Senate on June 2, 2020. Buhari also approved the appointment of Bello Tukur as FCC’s secretary on April 14, 2017, and was reappointed on March 12, 2021, for a term of four years. While Dankaka is from Kwara, Tukur hails from Taraba; the duo coming from the northern geopolitical zone. Meanwhile, in a letter dated Jan. 16 and titled: “Appeal to Mr President to Safeguard the Integrity of Federal Character Commission,” the constitutional lawyer prayed the president to give effect to the court judgment. The letter reads; “It is against this background that we make this appeal to you sir to give effect to the judgement of the court by appointing persons from different geo-political zones who will represent the diversity recognized in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (As Amended). “Mr. President sir, it may not have come to notice that the morale of staff is at all-time low and this singular incident has caused a lot of resentment among staff of the commission. “This is particularly because the commission itself is guilty of the infractions it was constitutional and statutory created to remedy. “Sir like the popular saying ‘remove the log in your eyes, before the log in mine.’ Mr. President Sir, your timely intervention will remedy this anomaly and restore the commission back to performing its constitutional and statutory functions efficiently. “It will also restore confidence of Nigerians in this administration as a government of inclusion, endearing hope in governance, and giving every Nigerian a sense of belonging.” Onifade, in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/709/2021, sued the president, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), FCC, Dankaka and Tukur as 1st to 5th defendants respectively at the Federal High Court, Abuja. In the originating summons dated and filed on July 19, 2021, the lawyer sought a declaration that “the president is bound to observe and comply with the provision of Sections 7 and 8 (1), (2) (a) (b) (c) of the Third Schedule, part 1 of the 1999 Constitution (As Amended) in the appointment of persons to the office of the Chairman and Secretary of FCC.” He also sought an order directing the president to immediately dissolve and reconstitute the FCC’s board in accordance with the laws. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in his judgment on Nov. 22, 2023, declared that the appointment of Dankaka and Tukur from the northern region was unlawful.

APC NEC elects Ganduje National Chairman, Basiru as Secretary

In a significant development for the All Progressives Congress (APC), the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) convened on Thursday to elect key officials. The former Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, emerged as the newly elected National Chairman, while Ajibola Basiru, the former Senate spokesman from Osun State, secured the position of National Secretary. The 12th NEC meeting of the APC took place at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja, where party leaders and delegates gathered to witness the election. After his victory, Ganduje expressed gratitude to the President and assured the party that internal democracy would be upheld during his tenure. Ganduje further committed to establishing a scientific register of party members, prioritizing election management, and effectively resolving conflicts within the party. He emphasized providing a level playing field for all members during party primaries to strengthen the party’s democratic principles. Prominent figures such as President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, members of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, and party chieftains in the National Assembly were in attendance at the NEC meeting. During the meeting, President Buhari emphasized the party’s responsibility to fulfill the promises of good governance made to the Nigerian people following successful electoral victories. He praised the 2023 elections as the best in Nigeria’s history. Notably, former President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were absent from the NEC meeting, while the first National Chairman of the party, Bisi Akande, was present. This NEC meeting followed a previous session of the APC national caucus, indicating the party’s commitment to addressing critical matters within its ranks. Earlier in mid-July, two members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), Senator Abdullahi Adamu and Senator Iyiola Omisore, resigned from their positions as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively. The election of Ganduje and Basiru marks a new chapter in the APC’s leadership, as they take on the task of steering the party towards success in the upcoming governorship elections.