Justice Adamu Bello of the Federal High Court on Monday in Abuja, has ruled that the appointment of Service Chiefs of the federation by the president was unconstitutional, illegal, null and void.
He therefore stripped the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the sole power to appoint Military Heads. Henceforth, the occupier of the office must seek the approval of the Senate.
The court ruling was sequel to a case instituted in 2008 by Festus Keyamo against the office of the President.
A statement from Festus Keyamo’s Chambers recalled that Mr. Keyamo had asked the court to pronounce on:
• Whether by the combined interpretation of the provisions of Section 218 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 and Section 18 of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A.20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, the 1st Defendant can appoint the Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Chief of Naval Staff without the confirmation of the National Assembly sought and obtained, and
• Whether Section 18 (1) & (2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A.20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 is not in conformity with the provision of the 1999 Constitution so as to fall within the category of existing laws under Section 315 (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, that the President, may, by Order, modify its text, to bring it into conformity with the provisions of the Constitution.
The court also declared that Section 18 (1) & (2) of the Armed Forces Act, Cap. A.20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, is in conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution so as not to fall within the category of existing laws under Section 315 (2) – of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999, and that the President, may, by order, modify its text, to bring it into conformity with the provisions of the constitution. It further restrained the President from further appointing Service Chiefs for the Federation without first obtaining the confirmation of the National Assembly.
The landmark pronouncement, which has been widely applauded by legal experts, restates the functions of the executive and the legislature.
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