A chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, APC, in Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume, has slammed N100billion suit against President Muhammadu Buhari, alleging that he was unlawfully removed as a non Executive Chairman of the newly Incorporated Nigeria National Petroleum Company, NNPC.
Ararume, formulated four issues for the Federal High Court in Abuja to determine in his favour in the suit he filed through a team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria, SANs led by Chief Chris Uche and Ogwu Onoja.
Through his lawyers, Ararume is urging the court to determine whether in view of the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the NNPC, Companies and Allied Matters Act 2010 and the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the office of the non Executive Chairman of the NNPC is not governed and regulated by the law.
Aside from seeking to set aside his removal from office, Ararume, prayed the court to reinstate and restore him back with all the appurtenant rights and privileges of the office of the NNPC non Executive Chairman.
The plaintiff further demanded for the nullification and setting aside of all decisions and resolutions the NNPC Board has made in his absence, starting from January 17, 2022 till date, and another order restraining the defendants from removing his name as Director of the Company.
The plaintiff told the court that he was not guilty of any pre-conditions for removal and was never declared bankrupt or adjudged medically unfit for the job.
He said the President’s action, by unlawfully sacking him from the position, fuelled public suspicion and rumours against his person, insisting that he has suffered loss of credibility, goodwill, untold emotional, mental and psychological trauma as well as public humiliation and degradation.
Consequently, he demanded for his reinstatement and the award of N100bn to him as compensation.
When the case was called up on Wednesday, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that the CAC should be joined as a party in the matter.
The matter has been adjourned till December 15 for mention.
