Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has said that
contrary to claims by President Muhammadu Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on
Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the Nigerian constitution does not permit
children of the president to embark on private trips using a presidential jet.
Falana was reacting to use of one of the jets in the
presidential fleet by Buhari’s daughter, Hanan, for a trip to Bauchi State on
Thursday.
The young lady, who holds a degree in Photography from
Ravensbourne University, London, had flown into Bauchi to photograph a Durbar
by Emir of Bauchi, Rilwanu Adamu, that fateful day.
The incident, which has since left many Nigerians especially
social media users enraged, has remained a topical issue with some defending
and condemning the move.
Adding his voice to the matter on Sunday, Falana said it was
not allowed under Nigerian law for the president’s children to fly around in a
presidential jet while on private trips.
According to the respected lawyer, Shehu’s defense runs
contrary to the dictates of Nigeria’s constitution and therefore cannot stand.
He said, “On October 27, 2016, the Presidency confirmed
newspaper reports of the planned sale of two presidential aircraft, a Falcon 7x
executive jet and Hawker 4000.
“In a press statement issued by the Presidency through the
President's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the
Nigerian people were informed that President Buhari had directed that the
aircraft in the presidential air fleet be reduced to cut down on waste.
“Shehu reminded Nigerians that President Buhari was elected
in 2015 on a commitment to crack down on the country’s systemic corruption,
hence downsizing the outlandish presidential fleet had been among his campaign
pledges.
“President Buhari's directive on the use of the presidential
fleet which was adopted by the Federal Government was popularly acclaimed by
Nigerians.
“However, on January 10, 2020, one of the daughters of
President Buhari was reported to have travelled from Abuja to Bauchi in a
presidential jet for a private engagement in utter breach of the official
policy of the Federal Government.
“Instead of apologising for the breach of the official
policy, the Presidency has defended the use of the presidential jet for the
private visit of a member of the first family.
“The Presidency is incorrect as it is at variance with the
official policy of the Federal Government.
“In other words, the official policy does not authorise the
children of the President to use the presidential jets to attend to private
social functions.
“In fact, there is no precedent whatsoever for such
privatisation of the presidency of Nigeria.
“Using of the aircraft in the presidential fleet by members
of the first family to attend to private engagements is not backed by any
extant law or official policy.
“In view of the foregoing, we call on President Buhari to
stop members of his family from using any of the aircraft in the presidential
fleet.”
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