A House of Representatives lawmaker, Mr. Igariwey Iduma-Enwo, on Wednesday approached an Abuja Federal High Court, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1022/15, to challenge the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to rescue states in the country with a bailout of N713.7bn.
Among the defendants in the suit are the President; Attorney-General of the Federation; Federal Ministry of Finance; Accountant-General of the Federation; Auditor-General of the Federation; and the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.
While speaking with journalists at the National Assembly soon after filing the suit, Iduma-Enwo said he decided to challenge Buhari because he acted alone without regard for the principle of separation of powers.
He said, even though he sympathise with the states, especially now that many civil servants could not fend for their families due to non-payment of salaries, the President must still follow the “due process of law.”
The lawmaker added, “Let him show us where it is stated in the Constitution that the President can unilaterally give money without the approval of the National Assembly.
“It then means that one day they can sit at Aso Rock and pass the national budget.
“Why do we have the National Assembly if matters like this can be handled by fiat without letting the National Assembly know about it or play its role as the appropriating authority?”