The Supreme Court on Monday
criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for using a senior state counsel at the
Ministry of Justice, Abdullahi Abubakar, for his private election-related
trial.
The apex court made the
observation while delivering a ruling in a suit accusing the president of lying
on oath. Three appellants had filed the suit alleging that Mr Buhari lied on
oath in a form he submitted to the electoral commission, INEC, for the 2019
election.
The judgement by the five-member
panel was read by Justice Mary Odili, but the main criticism of the president’s
action was announced by Justice Musa Dattijo.
The judge while querying the
counsel that represented the president asked if Mr Buhari was sued in his
capacity as president or as a private citizen.
Mr Abubakar replied saying “Mr
Buhari was sued as a private citizen.”
The judge told Mr Buhari’s lawyer
that a former president of the United States, Bill Clinton, “sponsored his own
litigation personally, without involving the Ministry of Justice.”
The court faulted the use of
taxpayers money to work on private litigation.
The court described it as a
contravention of the provisions of the Code of Conduct for public officers.
“It is inappropriate, the
representation of Mr Buhari by the Senior State Counsel of the Ministry of
Justice in his personal capacity and not as Nigerian President,” the judge
said.
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