The Federal High Court Abuja has fixed hearing in the suit challenging the dichotomy in the status of Ministers of the Government of the Federation for 29th February, 2016.
The case with suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/994/2015 is pending before Hon. Justice A. A. Kafarati of Court 2, Federal High Court, Abuja. The originating summons was served on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation on Friday. The defendants have 14 days within which to file their responses if any.
The plaintiff, John Nwobodo, an Enugu-based lawyer and activist, had on December 3, 2015 dragged the President and the Attorney General of the Federation to court over the apparent dichotomy in the status, benefits and privileges of Ministers.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Ibe Kachikwu was removed as OPEC Chairman barely two days after his appointment on account that he was not a substantive Minister. This, Nwobodo told The Easterner, is one casualty that the country had had to suffer as a result of the dichotomy.
Of the 36 Ministers appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari, 12 are Junior Ministers. The plaintiff in this suit is seeking among other reliefs the order of the court directing the president to designate all the Ministers equally.
