From Godwin Tsa, Abuja
The people of the South East geo-political zone have approached a Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge President Muhammadu Buhari and the Attorney General of the Federation for failing to appoint a member from the zone as a replacement to Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu as the Director General of National Pension Commission (PENCOM).
The action of the zone is contained in a suit filed before the court marked FHC/ABJ/CS/371/17 wherein it is contending that the replacement of the immediate past Director General of PENCOM with another person outside the zone constitute a breach of the oath of office of the President under section 26 (1) of the 7th schedule to the 1999 Constitution.
The suit which was filed by Giles Ugwunweze, the South-East Coalition for Justice and Equity (SECJE) and Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is seeking an order of court directing the president (1st Defendant), to appoint a Director General for the National Pension Commission from the South-East Geo-political Zone in accordance with Section 21 (2) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014.
Already, hearing in the suit has been adjourned to October 23, 2017 as the court presided by Justice John Tsoho did not sit yesterday.
The plaintiffs were represented in court by Stephen Oluebube, F.I Nwodo, S.N Ezeora and Anthony Ojeh who appeared as legal representatives.
The suit is further praying for an order setting aside the appointment of Aliyu Abdul Rahman Dikko (the 3rd Defendant) and Aisha Dahir-Umar(4th defendant) by the President ( 1st Defendant).
Besides, they urged the court to hold that upon the proper construction and interpretation of Section 21 (2) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 the replacement of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu from Anambra State in the South-East Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria with Aliyu Abdurahman Dikko from the North-West Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria is not illegal, null and void.
The plaintiffs are further seeking for the determination of the question of construction of Sections 19(5)(a), 21 (1) (j) and 21 (2) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 as amended and Section 171 of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999.
Whether in the replacement of the Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), who is of South-East Origin, under Section 21 (2) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 pursuant to Section 21 (j) and having regards to the relevant provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), the 1st Defendant is restricted to the Geo-Political Zone of the immediate past Director-General that vacated office to complete the remaining tenure?