Group asks FG to resolve seven-year leadership crisis at NIFOR

The Coordinator-General of Edo Unity League, Prof. Akenuwa Obarogie, stated this in a letter to Kyari in the face of the leadership crisis that has plagued the oil research institute over the years.

Obarogie, who recalled a series of court judgements in favour of the appointment of Dr. Napoleon Aisueni since 2017 as the Director/Chief Executive, regretted that some alleged political cabal has continued to undermine the rule of law and ethics of appointment in the civil service as it concerns NIFOR.

He pointed out that “advertisements and interviews earlier conducted were done without regard to due process and therefore invalidated by pending court injunctions,” adding that “appointments cannot be made on that selection process until the court cases are concluded and a selection process initiated when the seat is unencumbered. This is consistent with the spirit and letters of all subsisting judgements by various courts of competent jurisdiction in the matter.”

He added that Dr. Napoleon Aisueni, an Edo man who was appointed to the position of Director/Chief Executive in 2017 but was prevented from running his term even after the court judgement in his favour, in which his appointment was declared proper, is a victim of executive rascality.

He maintained that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture appealed that judgement, which to date has not been set aside, pointing out that “the court judgement in favour of Dr. Napoleon Osasuyi Aisueni, in which his appointment vide letter No. Agr/B03/1/156 of 9/11/2017 as Director/Chief Executive of NIFOR was upheld and declared proper, valid, and still stands by the National Industrial Court in Suit No. NICN/BEN/24/2017, has not been set aside till date.”

“This judgement was appealed by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Suit No. CA/AL/72/2019, a pending suit at the Federal Court of Appeal, Akure.”

“Appointing a substantive Director/Chief Executive indicates that Suit No. CA/AL/72/2019 has been set aside by the Ministry, an action we consider prejudicial and in complete violation of the rule of law.”

“Dr. Napoleon O. Aisueni may not be desirous anymore of occupying the position, but his case at the courts should be officially processed, and necessary settlement reached between the parties. It is unlawful for the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to roughshod court processes with impunity in a government that proclaims respect for the rule of law in all its administrative activities.”

Obarogie explained that the Benin National Congress (BNC) worldwide, as well as the United Patriots Assembly of Nigeria (UPAN), are joint defendants and respondents in some of the above cases due to the need to guarantee a peaceful operating environment in NIFOR.