Lawyer sues Buhari over excessive hardship resulting from 2021 fuel scarcity

A Lagos-based lawyer, Mr. Festus Ogun, has filed a suit against President Muhammadu Buhari  at the Federal High Court in Lagos over the excessive hardship Nigerians went through as a result of the fuel scarcity experienced earlier this year.

In the suit, numbered FHC/L/CS/743/22, Ogun prayed the court to stop Buhari from serving as the Minister of Petroleum Resources or from holding any other executive office in any capacity whatsoever, adding that the president could not serve efficiently in the office.

Ogun stated that “in February 2022, there was an unprecedented nationwide fuel scarcity that lingered for about a month; leaving citizens of Nigeria, inclusive of the Plaintiff, in pain, hardship, and agony”, adding that the hardship equally affected the smooth running of his business and that of other Nigerians.

Ogun, in a separate statement, also said, “I have just filed a lawsuit against President Muhammadu Buhari at the Federal High Court in Lagos over the excessive pain, hardship, and agony Nigerians went through as a result of the fuel scarcity experienced earlier this year.

“I solemnly believe that the gross inefficiency and mismanagement in the Petroleum Sector, that led to the fuel scarcity, is avoidable if the President was not holding the dual position of Petroleum Minister in violation of Section 138 of the 1999 Constitution.

“I believe that the President’s continuous serving as Petroleum Minister is not only illegal and unconstitutional, it is inimical to our economic growth and likely to occasion future scarcity and inefficiency that will affect the country and its good people.

“I make bold to say that it is practically and legally impossible for the President to hold his elected position, which comes with enormous responsibilities, contemporaneously with the position of Petroleum Minister. It has no basis in law, logic, and politics.

If Nigerians suffered that heavily during the fuel scarcity, the President must be answerable for it. There must be consequences. And as a citizen of this country, I believe we must avert a reoccurrence; whether under this regime or in future administrations.”

In the suit, the lawyer had also joined the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami – SAN, and the National Assembly over the appointment of Buhari as the Minister of Petroleum which he said, violated the law.

A date was yet to be fixed for the hearing of the suit. (Adapted from a PUNCH report)