NPA MD Hadiza Bala-Usman Sacked!
Court papers have confirmed the exit of Hadiza Bala-Usman as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
The Bala- Usman was suspended based on approval by President Muhammadu Buhari to allow scientific investigation into allegations of abuse of office and general misconduct leveled against her by Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
But an affidavit submitted at the Federal High Court Lagos on behalf of President Buhari in response to a suit instituted by Elder Asu Beks, the Chief Executive Officer of Maritime Media Limited, Publishers of Shipping World Magazine confirms the suspension has transformed into sack for Bala-Usman.
The affidavit signed by Agan Tabitha, Civil Litigation Department of the Federal Ministry of Justice Abuja on behalf of Buhari’s Counsel; Mrs Maimuna Lami Shiru and Mrs C.I Nebo was filed as a preliminary objection to the suit by Elder Asu Beks a report monitored by societynow.ng on dailytrend.com revealed.
According to the report, the suit by Asu Beks and two others, Mr Tompra Abarowei and Mr Miebi Senge is challenging the “powers of President Muhammadu Buhari to unlawfully constitute the board of the NPA, as well as appointment of its Executive Directors without recourse to the statutory provisions of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Act.”
The suit is premised on the claim that President Buhari prematurely reappointed, six clear months before Bala-Hadiza’s tenure expires.
But President Buhari in a the affidavit filed on July 12, 2021 insisted that “The alleged reappointment of the 3rd Defendant (Hadiza Bala Usman) upon which this Court is being called upon to adjudicate has since been terminated by the 1st Defendant (Buhari) and the instant suit overtaken by the event of that termination”
And argued that the suit against him has “no locus” that “That it is in the interest of Justice to dismiss the plaintiffs suit in its entirety or against the first defendant…
“We submit that it is clear from the Plaintiff‘s affidavit, the questions for determination as well as the reliefs sought. it is obvious that the Plaintiff neither suffered any injury as a result of the act or omission of the 1st Defendant”
“It is also evident that the claim against the Defendants is that the court should declare the alleged action of the 1st Defendant re-appointing, nominating and setting up of board of NPA illegal as it contravenes section 2 and 10 NPA Act Cap N126, LFN 2004, even without stating that they have suffered any personal damage beyond any other person as a result of the said appointment”
“My Lord. it is our submission that the Plaintiffs here does not possess the requisite locus standi to institute this action. Locus sandi denotes the right of a party to institute an action in a court of law”
Further revelation in the report monitored by societynow.ng revealed that “the suit number FHC/L/CS/485/2021, filed by Asu Beks through his lawyer, Mr Mike Ozekhome (SAN) apart from President Buhari, other defendants in the court action are the Minister of Transportation, the Managing Director of the NPA, Ms Hadiza Bala Usman and the Chairman, Board of NPA, Mr Emmanuel Adesoye.
The suit is being heard before Justice Tujjani Garba Ringim of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi”
