The appointment of Hannatu Musawa as Minister of Art, Culture, and Creative Economy by President Bola Tinubu faced a legal challenge in a Federal High Court in Abuja, but the suit has been struck out.
In a judgment, Justice James Omotosho ruled that the plaintiffs did not have the legal standing to bring the case forward and even if they did, the suit had no merit.
President Tinubu nominated Musawa, a lawyer and former Presidential Adviser on Culture and Entertainment Economy, for the ministerial position on July 27, 2023. She was later confirmed by the Senate on August 1, 2023, and sworn in on August 21, 2023.
At the time of her appointment, there were reports that Musawa, from Katsina State, was still serving as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.
The Incorporated Trustees of Concerned Nigeria, along with Chief Dr. Patrick Eholor and Thomas Marcus, who were the plaintiffs, questioned whether Musawa, as a serving corps member, was eligible to hold a ministerial position as per the NYSC Act and Bye-Laws.
The plaintiffs requested the court to nullify Musawa’s appointment as a minister based on the alleged violation of the NYSC rules.
In response, Musawa’s legal team argued that one of the plaintiffs was not a legal entity and that none of the plaintiffs had shown how they were uniquely affected to justify their lawsuit.
In the verdict delivered by Justice Omotosho, he emphasized the constitutional requirement that a minister must be eligible for election to the House of Representatives.
Section 147 (5) of the 1999 Constitution states that a person must meet the qualifications to be elected as a member of the House of Representatives in order to be appointed as a minister.