Hannatu Musawa: Activists call for sack of Tinubu’s minister

A legal battle has been initiated by prominent activists Deji Adeyanju and Chief Patrick Eholor, alongside the civil rights group Concerned Nigerians, against the appointment of Hannatu Musawa as a federal minister. The lawsuit challenges the legality of Musawa’s appointment, asserting that she currently serves as a corps member, and therefore her appointment violates the law.

The lawsuit, filed at the Abuja division of the Federal High Court under suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1198/2023, names Hannatu Musawa, the President of Nigeria, and the Attorney General of the Federation as parties. The case was brought forward by human rights lawyer Samuel Ihensekhien Jr. on behalf of Deji Adeyanju and Chief Dr. Patrick Eholor.

Samuel Ihensekhien Jr. highlighted the core contention of the lawsuit, stating that Musawa’s appointment as a federal minister while she is an active corps member contradicts the principles established by the Supreme Court. Referring to the 2019 case of Modibbo v Usman, he emphasized that serving youth corps members are not eligible to contest elections or engage in partisan politics. He further noted that this ineligibility extends to governmental appointments, as outlined by the Constitution.

The lawsuit seeks five distinct reliefs and additional consequential injunctions. It aims to challenge the validity of Musawa’s appointment on the grounds of her current corps membership status and the constitutional requirements for ministerial appointments.

Daily Trust reported that Eddy Megwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), confirmed that Hannatu Musawa has been serving as a federal minister for the past eight months in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Megwa acknowledged that the appointment contravenes the NYSC Act, which prohibits corps members from accepting government positions until their one-year service period is completed.