NNPC Chair: Buhari, Ararume Battle Continues

For Senator Ifeanyi Ararume it’s not yet Uhuru in his quest to be reinstated as the chairman Board of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPL.

Barely 24 hours after his reinstatement by a federal high court in Abuja, the federal government says it will challenge the ruling.

In his ruling on the matter on Tuesday, the court presided over by Justice Inyang Ekwo said the former senator was illegally removed from office.

He was also awarded N5 billion as damages.

But on Wednesday, the Presidency in indicated its readiness to challenge the ruling.

According to a state by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity the judgment did not sit well with the federal government, and will be challenged at the Court of Appeal.

Adesina said the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami will has been directed by the president to challenge the judgment as soon as he received a true certified copy.

Meanwhile, a northern group, The Coalition of Arewa Civil Society Groups has criticized the judgment reinstating Ararume, saying it’s an attempt by the court to usurp the powers of the executive arm of government.

The Arewa group made its position on the issue known in a statement on Wednesday, signed by its publicity secretary, Mallam Sanni Mohammed.

Thee coalition said President Buhari acted within his powers to hire and fire Senator Ararume based on the Petroleum Industry Governance Act.

The statement read: “The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) is unambiguous as Section 14 is clear on the president’s power to suspend or remove members of the NNPCL board and the conditions that could result in such removal or suspension. President Buhari as the Minister of Petroleum heads the industry with a wide range of powers to formulate, monitor, and administer government policies. Indeed, those who call Buhari’s sacking of Ararume illegal should read in-between the lines.”

The coalition urged the nation to grow past petty sentiments and avoid using the judiciary to cause chaos, setting the country backward by damaging its image before the eyes of the international community.

“The essence of any judicial intervention is to ensure orderliness and good conduct in government’s affairs.

“When a judicial pronouncement seeks to usurp the powers of another branch of government, it is a recipe for anarchy and breakdown of the rule of law.

“It is in this regard that we in the Coalition of Arewa Civil Society groups note with great displeasure and consider as an aberration the judgement by the Federal High Court in Abuja, restoring Senator Ifeanyi Ararume as non-Executive Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

“The Coalition views as usurpation of the duties of the Office of the President and an affront on the powers of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“For a start, the 1999 Constitution provides that “5(1) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive powers of the Federation — (a) shall be vested in the President and may, subject as aforesaid and to the provisions of any law made by the National Assembly, be exercised by him either directly or through the Vice-President and Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the Public Service of the Federation.”

“Also, the cabinet and the larger administrative team, except where specifically established by the constitution, hold their appointments at the pleasure of Mr. President,” the statement said.