Health Ministry: Rights Activist Drags Tinubu To Court Over Alleged Lopsided Appointments

A legal practitioner, Maxwell Opara, has sued President Bola Tinubu over allegations of lopsided appointments of Chief Executive Officers and Board Chairpersons in agencies under the Federal Ministry of Health.

In the originating summons marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/218/2024 filed Feb. 20 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the rights activist alleged that the appointments excluded people from the south east region.

Opara, therefore, sued the President, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Federal Character Commission (FCC) as 1st to 3rd defendants respectively for failing to adhere to the federal character principle in the appointments made on Feb. 15.

Citing Sections 4 and 5 of the FCC Act and the commission’s guideline for distribution of posts, the lawyer contends that the appointments clearly violated the requirements for equitable representation of states and geopolitical zones.

According to him, an analysis of the appointees shows a predominance of persons from the northern zones, contrary to the provisions of the law and regulations.

The plaintiff is therefore asking the court to nullify the appointments and order fresh ones that reflect fairness and comply fully with the principle of federal character.

The matter is yet to be assigned to a judge as at the time of filing the report.