Atiku Abubakar, has approached a High Court in Federal Capital
Territory, asking it to bar President Muhammadu Buhari and
security agencies in the country from interfering with the general
election.
Atiku further asked the court to compel Buhari to pay him damages
in the aggregate sum of N2 billion, as well as tender a public
apology to him, for sponsoring frivolous suits against him.
The demands were contained in a counter-claim the PDP
presidential candidate filed in response to a N40 million libel suit the
Buhari Campaign Organisation, BCO, slammed against him over an
allegation that he defamed Buhari and his family.
The BCO had in its suit marked FCT/HC/CV/804/2019, accused
Atiku and his aide, Mr. Phrank Shaibu, of making several
defamatory statement in the media, to the effect that Buhari used
his position as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and
head of the government to fraudulently acquire two private
companies, Keystone Bank Plc and 9Mobile Communication Ltd for
himself, his family members, and friends.
Meanwhile, Atiku, in a counter-claim filed through his lawyer, Mr.
Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume, SAN, challenged the competence of
the suit he said was highly frivolous.
He applied for an order mandating that the N2 billion damages to be
paid by President Buhari and the BCO, be sent to all the camps of
Internally Displaced People, IDPs, across the country and for
equipment of libraries and information technology equipment for all
state universities in Nigeria.
More so, Atiku, sought an order, “mandating President Buhari and
his agents, including security operatives and officers to abide by the
rule of law and the principle of separation of powers entrenched in
the constitution and should not intervene in the forthcoming
elections.”
In a 56-paragraphed witness statement on oath deposed to by one
Abraham Udoh, the PDP presidential flag-bearer told the court that
President Buhari had failed Nigerians by his inability as a President
to stop ruthless and wanton killings across the country.
Killings, destruction
He said the killings and destruction had rendered citizens, farmers,
women and children homeless without food or basic amenities of
life, as well as led to the emergence of various IDP camps in the
country.
He said: “That under the present administration, there are over
108,000 Internally Displaced Persons grappling with a litany of
infections and hunger.”
“In Taraba State, number of IDPs in the various camps are: Mayo
Dassa (402 IDPs); Gullong (1259), ATC Kofai (968), Abuja I and II
(357), Dorowa/Magami/Malam Joda (579), Sabon Gari (482),
Malum (872), Murtai/Yaukani/Yelwa(554), Mile six (74),
Nyabukaka/Tutan Kurma/Kasa (148) and Nukkai (30).
“That in Plateau State there are a total of 38,051 Internally Displaced
Persons, IDPs, who were victims of June 23 and 24 violence
involving suspected herdsmen and villagers in Barkin Ladi, Riyom,
Mangu, Bokkos and Jos South Local Government Areas are taking
refuge in 31 camps.
“That in Benue State they have registered more than 180,000
displaced persons in eight camps while over 500, 000 IDPs are
taking shelter wherever they find space.”
Atiku further informed the court that President Buhari’s “lopsided
appointments and insensitivity to the principle of Federal Character
laid down in section 14 (3) of the 1999 constitution has led to
disunity amongst Nigerians.
“That the current division in Nigeria was ignited by that infamous 5
per cent versus 97per cent speech that President Buhari gave in
Washington on June 23, 2015. No father should ever tell some of
his kids in the presence of the rest of his kids that he loves them
more than the others. When this happens, the discontent that it will
cause may lead to the breakup of that home.
“That in a report by Transparency International, TI, released on
February 21, 2018, Nigeria was still ranked as one of the most
corrupt countries in the World.
“That the inability of the Buhari administration to combat grand
corruption has led to astronomical plundering of public coffers
costing the Nigerian taxpayers around 25 per cent of annual Gross
Domestic Product (GDP).
“That according to a recent report released by International
Monetary Fund, IMF, on February 28, 2018, Nigerians are getting
poorer despite the country’s slow recovery from a devastating
recession.”
‘Illegal’ CJN
Atiku further told the court that Buhari’s desecration of the judicial
process of the nation, led to high tension and democratic instability
in the country.
“That Buhari in flagrant abuse of his veto power, without any
unilateral support from other tiers of government illegally and
unconstitutionally suspended Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice
Walter Onnoghen, from office on January 25, 2019 without strict
adherence to the provisions of section 292 of the 1999 constitution
which laid down the procedure for the removal of a judicial officer in
his capacity.”
Source:- Vanguardngr
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