A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Wednesday dismissed a suit seeking to stop President Muhammadu Buhari from delegating powers to control the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to the minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
Justice James Omotosho, in a judgment, dismissed the suit for lacking in merit.
Justice Omotosho held that Section 23 of the NDDC (Establishment) Act gave the president the powers to give directives to the commission and it shall be bound by such orders.
He also held that going by Section 7(3) of the Act, the direction and control of the commission was placed firmly under the control of the president.
According to him, this means that the 1st defendant (president) can override the powers and functions of the commission.
The judge said the provision gave the president wide powers to oversee the management of the commission.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that President Buhari had, through a letter dated Sept. 2, 2019, delegated his powers to give directives to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.
The letter read in part that based on Section 7(3) of the NDDC Act, the president directed the Board and Management of the commission to carry out their activities under the supervision of the ministry
But Oladimeji Ekengba, the plaintiff and a legal practitioner, sued the president, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), minister, Niger Delta Affairs and the permanent secretary as 1st to 5th defendant respectively.
NAN
