Appeal court orders Buhari to name minister to represent Abuja

The Court of Appeal Abuja in a unanimous decision Monday evening delivered a landmark judgment declaring FCT Abuja Indigenes are entitled to Ministerial representation in the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as provided by the combined provisions of Sec. 147(3), 299, 14(3) & 42 of 1999 Constitution.
The court also declared that the persistent denial and refusal of past Presidents and current President to so appoint an Indigene of FCT Abuja as a Minister in the Federal Executive Council since May 1999 is tantamount to a gross violation of the said Constitutional rights including fundamental right against discrimination.
The court directed the President to immediately make the said appointment. A cost of N100, 000 awarded against the President and AGF as 1st and 2nd respondents.
The lead judgment was written by Justice Komolafe, in the petition filed by an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Muss Panya-Baba.
Panya-Baba has been in the forefront of advocacy for indigenous FCT peoples, whose land was taken by the federal government to relocate the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja.
Details later….