House Of Rep Member Drags Buhari To Court

Igariwey Iduma-Enwo, a member of the House of Representatives, has taken legal actions against the Federal Government.
The Punch reports that Iduma-Enwo approached Federal High Court in Abuja to challenge the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue states with a bailout of N713.7bn.
In a suit filed on July 15, Wednesday, the Peoples Democratic Party lawmaker from Ebonyi state is seeking to know whether Buhari has powers under the 1999 Constitution to give the bailout without
the approval of the National Assembly.
The list of defendants in the suit include the president, attorney-general of the federation, federal ministry of finance, accountant-general of the federation, auditor-general of the federation, and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
Iduma-Enwo is asking the court to determine whether Buhari could, by his presidential “fiat”, direct that public money from the federal government’s account should be disbursed to states and local governments without the prescription of the National Assembly.
The plaintiff is urging the court to declare the action of the president and his co-defendants “unconstitutional, illegal, unlawful, null and void.” He is also seeking an order of “perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from giving out funds to the states and local governments without the prescription of the National Assembly.”
Speaking with reporters after filing the suit, Iduma-Enwo said he decided to drag Buhari to court because the president acted alone without regard for the principle of separation of powers.
“Let him show us where it is stated in the Constitution that the president can unilaterally give money without the approval of the National Assembly.
“It then means that one day they can sit at Aso Rock and pass the national budget.
“Why do we have the National Assembly if matters like this can be handled by fiat without letting the National Assembly know about it or play its role as the appropriating authority?” he wandered.
It would be noted that the date for the hearing of the suit has not been fixed yet.
Meanwhile, Lagos lawyer Femi Falana blasted those against President Buhari’s bailout fund given to states who are owing salaries of workers.