Former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Olisa Agbakoba, has filed a claim at the Federal High Court, Abuja, against the Federal government to determine the constitutional qualification of President Muhammadu Buhari to hold another executive office as Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Agbakoba, in a statement released by his Chambers, is contending that by virtue of of the provisions of section 138 of the Constitution disqualifying the President of Nigeria from taking any paid employment or holding executive office of Minister of Petroleum Resources, the President cannot hold office as Minister of Petroleum Resources.
His other argument is that in any event, the President’s appointment as Minister of Petroleum Resources was not confirmed by the Senate of the National Assembly, as stipulated by section 147(2) of the constitution.
The affidavit supporting Agbakoba’s claim seeks the determination of the questions in the claim, insisting that it is of vital national importance, in view of the governance chaos at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He has requested the court to return answers that the President is not validly qualified to be Minister of Petroleum Resources and in any event the President is also disqualified to be Minister of Petroleum Resources, not having been confirmed by the Senate.
No date has been fixed for the hearing.