BREAKING: S/Court criticises Buhari for using govt’s lawyer for private matter

The Supreme Court on Monday reportedly criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for making use of a senior state counsel at the Ministry of Justice, Abdullahi Abubakar, for his private election-related trial.

The apex court said to had made the observation while delivering a ruling in a suit accusing the president Buhari of lying on oath.

Three appellants had filed the suit, according to reports, alleging that President Buhari lied on oath in a form he submitted to the electoral commission, INEC, for the 2019 election.

The awareness earlier reported by an online media company, Premium Times, on how the Supreme Court dismissed the main suit against the president for being statute-barred.

According to gathered report, the judgement by the five-member panel was read by Justice Mary Odili, but the main criticism of the Buhari’s action was raised by Justice Musa Dattijo.

The judge while querying the counsel that represented the president asked if Mr Buhari was sued in his capacity as president or as a private citizen.

Mr Abubakar replied saying “Mr Buhari was sued as a private citizen.”

The judge told Mr Buhari’s lawyer that a former president of the United States, Bill Clinton, “sponsored his own litigation personally, without involving the Ministry of Justice.”

The court faulted the use of taxpayers money to work on private litigation.

The court described it as a contravention of the provisions of the Code of Conduct for public officers.

“It is inappropriate, the representation of Mr Buhari by the Senior State Counsel of the Ministry of Justice in his personal capacity and not as Nigerian President,” the judge said.