Groups faults Buhari’s alleged hiring of lawyer from Justice Ministry

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption, (CSNAC) has  claimed that   President Muhammadu Buhari has  committed a grave act of corruption  by allegedly securing the services of a government lawyer to defend him in a private court case.Also, the anti-corruption coalition accused the President of spending public funds on his private litigation.

In a letter addressed to the President and signed by CSNAC Chairman, Mr Olanrewaju Suraju asked the President to return the money incurred in the process to public purse.

“It is wrong for you to be defended by a Government lawyer when the case in question relates to you in your personal capacity and not as the President of Nigeria”, CSNAC said.

In the letter sent to the President this weekend, CSNAC said the President is obliged to show the highest moral examples to the country.

The Supreme Court on Monday, 1st September, 2019 had criticized President Buhari for using a senior state counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Abdullahi Abubakar, for his private election-related trial.

The court made the observation while delivering a ruling in a suit accusing Mr. Muhammadu Buhari of lying on oath. Three appellants had filed the suit alleging that Mr Buhari lied on oath in a form CF001 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 election.

Reports indicated that the Supreme Court dismissed the main suit against Mr. Buhari for being statute-barred.

The judgment by the five-member panel was read by Justice Mary Odili, but the main criticism of the President’s action was announced by Justice Musa Dattijo. The judge while querying the counsel that represented Mr. Buhari asked if Mr. Buhari was sued in his capacity as President or as a private citizen. The counsel responded saying, “Mr Buhari was sued as a private citizen.”

CSNAC said the action violated the code of conduct as laid down for the office of the President.

“Your action runs contrary to the mandate of your government to fight corruption. And we make bold to state that this act runs fowl of the provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Office holders. The Code states in Rule 1, that “a public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities”.

CSNAC said the Act of using a state counsel for a private matter in the capacity as the President goes contrary to the provision of the Code for public officers.

The code in Rule 9 also states that “a public officer shall not do or direct to be done, in abuse of his office, any arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of any other person knowing that such act is unlawful or contrary to any government policy”.

CSNAC reiterated that the act of using the state counsel is contrary to the provisions of the Code of Conduct for public officers and this code also covers the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and  also amounts to looting the treasury of the nation which in turn relates to taking monies belonging to tax payers for personal benefit and we believe that what flows from the head will most certainly flow to its branches.

The group stated “In the light of the above, we hereby demand that the cost in which Your excellency would have incurred in seeking the services of private legal practitioner be remitted into the treasury of the government with immediate effect.”

The Civil Society Network Against Corruption (CSNAC) is a coalition of organisations and individuals committed to the fight against corruption in Nigeria

The group was founded on the mandate to constantly ensure that transparency and accountability permeates across all levels.