‘It’s unconstitutional’ – Lawyer slams Tinubu, Shettima over absence from Nigeria
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has criticized President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for their concurrent absence from Nigeria, calling it a “brazen violation” of the 1999 Constitution.
During an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Effiong discussed the potential constitutional implications arising from Tinubu’s extended stay abroad and Shettima’s trip to the United States for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.
President Tinubu has been out of the country since August 30, when he departed for London to begin a working vacation. In contrast, Shettima left Abuja on September 20 to represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation at the UN General Assembly in New York.
Effiong pointed to Section 145 of the Constitution, which mandates that presidential authority must be formally transferred when the President is on vacation or otherwise unable to perform his duties.
“Under Section 145, subsection one, presidential powers are exclusively vested in the President, including those of the Commander-in-Chief, and are not delegable,” Effiong explained. He added that certain constitutional functions must be carried out by the President or an Acting President.
“The rationale behind Section 145 is to ensure that there is always a substantive President or an Acting President in office,” Effiong stated.
