There was a mild drama at the Federal High Court, Ikoyi yesterday, November 4, as parties to the suit challenging the premature reappointment of Hadiza Bala Usman as Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, (NPA), were informed that the matter was heard a clear 24 hours before the scheduled date of November 4.
Recall that maritime stakeholder, Elder Asu Beks, and two others had on March 25, 2021, filed the suit challenging the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari to prematurely re-appoint Hadiza Usman, six clear months before the expiration of her statutory 5-year tenure.
The plaintiffs, among other reliefs, are also urging the Court to declare the composition of the current Board of NPA a nullity, as it did not meet the statutory requirements prescribed by the NPA Act.
At the first hearing of the suit on July 5, 2021, and filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by Chief Mike Ozekhome, the attention of the Presiding Judge, Justice Tijjani Garba Ringim, had been drawn to the fact that the defendants, including President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Hadiza Bala Usman and Emmanuel Abisoye, NPA Board Chairman, had no counsels representing them, which prompted the case to be adjourned to November 4.
Thereafter, Barr. Ejieke Onuoha, representing Chief Mike Ozekhome Chambers, counsel to the plaintiffs, fumed: ”I just cannot understand what is going on. We, (plaintiffs and Counsel) were in court on July, 5. The Judge went through his diary and picked November, 4 as the date for the next hearing which is today. But to my surprise, I was informed by Registrar that the matter came up for mention the previous day and even admitted a motion from Barr. Ogboji withdrawing their representation”.
” We will we get to the root cause of what may have transpired”, he concluded.
