Deji Adeyanju, a human rights activist and the Convener of Concerned Nigerians, has lodged a legal suit against Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy. This action follows revelations that Musawa is currently serving as a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) while also recently being appointed to President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.
Prominent activists, Chief Patrick Eholor and Barrister Samuel Ihensekhien, have also joined Adeyanju in filing the lawsuit. They assert that Musawa’s simultaneous roles as an NYSC member and a federal minister constitute a legal conflict.
The lawsuit, filed under suit No FHC/ABJ/CS /1198/2023, was submitted at the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday. Its purpose is to challenge the “illegality of the appointment of Hannatu Musawa as a federal minister.”
Adeyanju released a statement accompanied by the court document, stating, “It is now undeniably evident, based on the authoritative pronouncements of the Supreme Court in the 2019 Modibbo vs Usman case, that a youth corps member is ineligible to contest any election in Nigeria or engage in partisan politics, similar to the situation with Mrs. Hanaatu Musawa in this instance.”
“We wish to inform the general public and concerned Nigerians that Deji Adeyanju, Chief Patrick Eholor, and Samuel Ihensekhien, all experienced activists, have jointly initiated legal proceedings to challenge the validity of Hannatu Musawa’s appointment as a federal minister,” the statement conveyed.
“In line with this, an individual like Mrs. Hannatu Musawa, who presently serves as a federal minister in Nigeria without having completed the mandatory one-year youth service, lacks the qualification required for appointment as a Minister. The Constitution stipulates identical eligibility criteria and disqualifications for both election to the House of Representatives and the role of a Minister.”
The statement detailed that the lawsuit seeks five specific reliefs, along with ancillary and consequential injunctions.
Disclaimer
The provided information is intended for general awareness and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. The post disclaims any warranties regarding the completeness, accuracy, or reliability of the content, services, or graphics on the website. It advises caution when using the information for any purpose.
