Hanan Buhari: Falana says use of presidential jet for private event is illegal
- Femi Falana, senior Nigerian lawyer, says it is illegal for children of a president in the country to use the presidential jets for personal engagements
- Falana urges President Muhammadu Buhari to discourage further occurrence as it would help cut cost of governance
- Garba Shehu, presidential spokesperson, earlier insisted the family members of the president have the right to use presidential jets
Notable human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has added a voice to the controversies raised by the use of a presidential jet by Hanan Buhari, daughter of Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari.
According to Falana, the use of the presidential jet by the president’s daughter for personal engagements is illegal.
The senior legal practitioner urged the president to discourage family members from further use of aircraft in the fleet for their individual activities.
Source: Facebook
The lawyer argued through a statement on Sunday, January 12, that the policy of the country does not permit the president’s children to fly the presidential jets when they are attending social events.
“In fact, there is no precedent whatsoever for such privatisation of the presidency of Nigeria,” the lawyer said in the statement.
“The so called ‘normal practice’ of using 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,” Falana said.
He said stopping the use of the jets in such manner would help to cut cost of governance.
Legit.ng reported that the presidency, on Saturday, January 11, justified the use of the jet by Hanan.
Garba Shehu, a presidential spokesperson, said Nigeria's first family have the right to use the presidential jet when they want.
Shehu noted that Hanan applied for and got the necessary nod from her father who also told the National Security Adviser (NSA).
PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app
“It’s true that a member of the First family was flown to Bauchi yesterday on a mission duly authorised." he had said.
Shehu further explained that the due process of the release of the jet was followed.
NAIJ.com (naija.ng) - Legit.ng. We have upgraded to serve you better.
Whom do you think can replace President Buhari in 2023? | Legit TV
Source: Legit.ng
