Comptroller Abdullahi Bello
Gusau, who was allegedly unlawfully retired, has called on President Muhammadu
Buhari to compel the Comptroller General, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) to comply with
the judgment mandating his reinstatement.
The Supreme Court had in its
judgment about 12 months ago ordered the Comptroller General of Nigerian
Customs Service, NCS, to reinstate him.
But the Customs Public Relations
Officer, Mr. Attah, said the only promotable position in customs was
comptroller, adding that the CG, DCG were based on appointment, and therefore
cannot be invented because of Gusau.
An appointee of Buhari, Ali, the
NCS boss, was mandated by judgment of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to reinstate
Comptroller Bello Gusau back into the Nigerian Customs Service on grounds that
his retirement from the service violated all constitutional procedure and
requirements.
Gusau told newsmen that, the
Supreme Court, in a copy of the judgment delivered on April 7, 2017, by Justice
Ejembi Eko, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna, affirmed Appeal Court’s
judgment, including the consequential orders, and mandated the CG to reinstate
him together with all the consequential orders of the Supreme Court of Nigeria
as contained in the judgement.
The court also made declarations
that the purported retirement of the plaintiff (Bello Gusau) by the second
defendant (Customs) was unlawful, malicious, irregular and fragrant violation
of the plaintiff’s right of employment until the mandatory retirement age.
Supreme court’s 5-man panel of
justices, headed by CJN, Walter S.N Onnoghen, also made an order affirming
Appeal Court’s judgement and the purported retirement of the plaintiff by 1st
and 2nd defendant’s public notice as unlawful.
The court, therefore, ordered the
defendant to allow Compt. Gusau to resume work and also maintain his position
as Comptroller of customs and be paid all his benefits and emoluments and enjoy
his lawful promotions.
It was gathered that the
judgement and orders of the Supreme Court of Nigeria were duly served on the CG
of Customs on the 10th,13th, and 21st days of April, 2017, respectively, and
also acknowledged receipts, but same was not complied with.
Till the time of filing this
report, Customs was yet to formalise the reinstatement and promotion of Gusau
by way of serving him with reinstatement letter and letter of promotion, and
subsequent decoration of his new rank. Similarly, the salary arrears,
emoluments and other entitlements have also not been paid to him.
The Attorney General of
Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), was also said
to have written many letters to the CG advising him to comply with the
judgement but he was equally disregarded.
AGF, in a letter dated April 25th
2017, with reference no. PE.1/S.221/P.66, advised the CG of Customs to comply
with the orders of Supreme Court, but same were ignored.
Also, a letter signed by G.T.
Afolabi (Esq) of Olugbenga Afolabi & Associates, Counsel and solicitors to
the victim, averred that their client was unlawfully retired on 21st December
2009, adding that the whole thing was done in bad faith.
“Our client was unlawfully
retired prematurely on 21st December 2009, more than 7 years ago by the former
CG of customs, Dikko Indes’ administration, who was arrested by EFCC over
allegations of N42 billion fraud, and diversion of public funds of N40 billion
from customs coffers, criminal conspiracy, theft, abuse of offices and living
above his legitimate means,” the letter explained.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
And our president mounted the podium in Addisababa in AU meeting to talk about rule of law in African countries. Is that not hypocritical when in Nigeria the pronouncement of the Highest court in the land was not obeyed. President Trump even obeyed the lower court order in the USA
ReplyDelete