House of Reps member sues Buhari for bailing out states

monjola sotubo

July 15, 2015 6:26 PM

Iduma-Enwo, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), filed the case in an Abuja Federal High Court on Wednesday, July 15, 2015.

President Muhammadu Buhari

A member of the House of Representatives, Igariwey Iduma-Enwo has taken President Muhammadu Buhari to court for bailing out states who were unable to pay their workers.

Iduma-Enwo, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), filed the case in an Abuja Federal High Court on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, Punch reports.

In the suit, FHC/Abj/CS102215, the Ebonyi State lawmaker queried whether Buhari was empowered by the 1999 Constitution to give the bailout without the approval of the National Assembly.

Other defendants in the case are the Attorney-General of the Federation; Federal Ministry of Finance; Accountant-General of the Federation; Auditor-General of the Federation; and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

“Let him show us where it is stated in the constitution that the President can unilaterally give money without the approval of the National Assembly. It then means that one day they can sit at Aso Rock and pass the national budget,” Iduma-Enwo told journalists after filing the case.

“Why do we have the National Assembly if matters like this can be handled by fiat without letting the National Assembly know about it or play its role as the appropriating authority?,” he added.

Buhari approved the N713.7 billion bailout package on July 6.

monjola sotubo