The supreme court on Monday admonished President Muhammadu Buhari for using Abdullahi Abubakar, a senior counsel at the ministry of justice, for his private matter, saying the use of taxpayers money on private litigation is a contravention of the provisions of the code of conduct for public officers.
The lawyer had appeared on the president’s behalf in a suit filed over his academic qualification, by Kalu Kalu Agu, Labaran Ismail, Hassy Jyari El-Kunis.
They accused Buhari of lying under oath in a form he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 election, but the supreme court dismissed the suit as being statute-barred.
However the apex court took exception to the appearance of the ministry of justice lawyer for the president on his private matter.
A five-man panel of judges led by Mary Odili asked Mr. Abubakar if Buhari was sued as a private citizen or as president?
The government lawyer said the president was being sued as a private citizen.
He answered that Buhari was sued as a private citizen.
And Justice Odili said: “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.”
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