Buhari Confirms Termination Of NPA Boss, Hadiza’s Appointment

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has
confirmed the termination of the appointment of the embattled
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza
Bala-Usman.

Buhari made this disclosure on July 12 in an affidavit filed at
the Federal High Court in Lagos under the auspices of Justice
Tujjani Ringim, in a suit brought against him by the Chief
Executive Officer of Maritime Media Limited, Asu Beks, and two
others.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/485/2021, the plaintiffs had filed a
suit challenging the powers of Buhari to constitute the NPA Board
and appoint the Executive Directors without recourse to the NPA
Act.

They also claimed that Buhari prematurely reappointed Hadiza
Bala-Usman six months to the expiration of her tenure.

The affidavit, which was filed as Buhari’s preliminary objection
to the suit was signed by Agan Tabitha of the Civil Litigation
Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, on behalf of
Buhari’s counsel.

“The alleged reappointment of the third defendant (Hadiza
Bala-Usman) upon which this court is being called upon to
adjudicate, has since been terminated by the first defendant
(Buhari) and the instant suit overtaken by the event of that
termination.” He said.

He also argued that the plaintiffs lack the locus standi to
bring the case and the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to
hear the matter.

Consequently, Buhari urged the court to dismiss the suit as it
has become purely academic.

“We submit that it is clear from the Plaintiffs’ affidavit, the
questions for determination as well as the reliefs sought. It is
obvious that the Plaintiffs neither suffered any injury as a result
of the act or omission of the 1st Defendant.

“It is also evident that the claim against the Defendants is
that the court should declare the alleged action of the 1st
Defendant re-appointing, nominating and setting up of board of NPA
illegal as it contravenes sections 2 and 10 NPA Act Cap N126, LFN
2004, even without stating that they have suffered any personal
damage beyond any other person as a result of the said
appointment.

“It is our submission that the Plaintiffs here do not possess
the requisite locus standi to institute this action. Locus standi
denotes the right of a party to institute an action in a court of
law,” he argued.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Asu Beks, Tompra Abarowei, and
Miebi Senge as first to third plaintiffs respectively.

The first to fourth defendants are Buhari, Minister of
Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Hadiza Bala-Usman, and the Chairman
NPA Board, Emmanuel Adesoye, respectively.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has
confirmed the termination of the appointment of the embattled
Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza
Bala-Usman.

Buhari made this disclosure on July 12 in an affidavit filed at
the Federal High Court in Lagos under the auspices of Justice
Tujjani Ringim, in a suit brought against him by the Chief
Executive Officer of Maritime Media Limited, Asu Beks, and two
others.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/485/2021, the plaintiffs had filed a
suit challenging the powers of Buhari to constitute the NPA Board
and appoint the Executive Directors without recourse to the NPA
Act.

They also claimed that Buhari prematurely reappointed Hadiza
Bala-Usman six months to the expiration of her tenure.

The affidavit, which was filed as Buhari’s preliminary objection
to the suit was signed by Agan Tabitha of the Civil Litigation
Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja, on behalf of
Buhari’s counsel.

“The alleged reappointment of the third defendant (Hadiza
Bala-Usman) upon which this court is being called upon to
adjudicate, has since been terminated by the first defendant
(Buhari) and the instant suit overtaken by the event of that
termination.” He said.

He also argued that the plaintiffs lack the locus standi to
bring the case and the Federal High Court has no jurisdiction to
hear the matter.

Consequently, Buhari urged the court to dismiss the suit as it
has become purely academic.

“We submit that it is clear from the Plaintiffs’ affidavit, the
questions for determination as well as the reliefs sought. It is
obvious that the Plaintiffs neither suffered any injury as a result
of the act or omission of the 1st Defendant.

“It is also evident that the claim against the Defendants is
that the court should declare the alleged action of the 1st
Defendant re-appointing, nominating and setting up of board of NPA
illegal as it contravenes sections 2 and 10 NPA Act Cap N126, LFN
2004, even without stating that they have suffered any personal
damage beyond any other person as a result of the said
appointment.

“It is our submission that the Plaintiffs here do not possess
the requisite locus standi to institute this action. Locus standi
denotes the right of a party to institute an action in a court of
law,” he argued.

The plaintiffs in the suit are Asu Beks, Tompra Abarowei, and
Miebi Senge as first to third plaintiffs respectively.

The first to fourth defendants are Buhari, Minister of
Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi; Hadiza Bala-Usman, and the Chairman
NPA Board, Emmanuel Adesoye, respectively.