Delta Citizens Sue Buhari, NASS Over Ndokwa's Exclusion from NDDC Board

Delta Citizens Sue Buhari, NASS Over Ndokwa's Exclusion from NDDC Board

*Queries non-inclusion of Ndokwa/Ukwuani in NDDC board in 16 years 

Following the exclusion of oil-producing Ndokwa ethnic nationality of Delta State from the new board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) constituted by the federal government, a group of citizens by the name of Concerned Ndokwa Patriots (CNP) has dragged President Muhammadu Buhari before the Federal High Court in Asaba, Delta State.

In the suit the pressure group is praying the court to compel the President to appoint at least an Ndokwa indigene into the newly constituted board of the NDDC.

Joined in suit as respondents are the Nigerian Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Abubarkar Malami, Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and three others.

The Ndokwa patriots prayed the court to restrain the twin-chambers of National Assembly from screening and confirming the list of nominees to the NDDC board as well as prevent the President from swearing in the nominated board members of the commission pending and until a person of Ndokwa ethnic exaction is appointed to the agency's board.

President Buhari had on July 20, 2016, published the list of eight nominees for appointment into the board of the NDDC obviously to the exclusion of any Ndokwa/Ukwuani person. 

Nonetheless, anchoring its legal demand and demand on relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution hinging on human right violation, the group in suit No. FHC/ASB/CS/47/2016, sought to know why any Ndokwa/Ukwuani indigene has not been appointed since the commission was established 16 years ago, precisely on 5 June, 2000. 

The suit further sought the order of court directing the 1st Respondent (President Buhari) to immediately appoint an indigene of the ethnic nationality in the proposed fifth board of the NDDC.

The suit prayed the court for: "A declaration that the non-inclusion of any indigene of Ndokwa/Ukwuani ethic group as members of the 5th governing board of the NDDC pursuant to section 2(1)(b)(v) and 2(2)(a)(b) of the NDDC Act of 12th July, 2000, amounts to discrimination against indigenes of Ndokwa/Ukwuani ethnic group in Delta State."

Counsel to the CNP (applicant), A.C. Oluiji, in the suit argued that the Ndokwa ethnic nationality has for decades been responsible for 12% of the total oil  and gas being explored in the Niger Delta region and plays host to the largest oil and gas recycling plant in the whole of West Africa.

Oluiji also noted that the gas recycling plant has been nicknamed Kwale/Okpai Gas Plant, being operated by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) and was currently supplying electricity to 14 states in Nigeria.