Court Injunction Threatens Accountant-General Appointment Process, Ruling Set for February 26
The National Industrial Court sitting in Abuja has scheduled February 26 for a ruling on an interlocutory injunction seeking to halt the ongoing selection process for a new Accountant-General of the Federation (AGoF).
The Injunction was filed by Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Ibrahim Angulu on behalf of his client, Joshua Kadmi Luka, who alleges that he was unlawfully excluded from the selection process due to an unproven allegation.
During the hearing, Angulu argued that the Head of Service (HoS) of the Federation, who is overseeing the selection, lacks constitutional authority to do so. He maintained that the Civil Service Commission is the proper body to supervise the process.
“It is unconstitutional for the Head of Service to handle the selection. Furthermore, under the presumption of innocence, mere allegations without a court conviction cannot justify excluding my client,” Angulu asserted.
He also referenced a previous instance where Luka was excluded from the appointment process for Permanent Secretary based on similar unproven allegations.
“We are seeking an order to halt the ongoing selection process until the court determines the legality of my client’s exclusion and the authority supervising the process,” Angulu concluded.
In the originating summons, Luka is requesting the court to declare the current selection process null and void and to order his inclusion in the ongoing exercise.
The presiding judge, Justice Rekiya Haastrup, after hearing the arguments, set February 26 to deliver her ruling on the injunction.
