Withdrawal of resignation letters unconstitutional – Falana

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has said the u-turn by political appointees seeking elective offices was illegal. 

In a statement Friday, Falana said the decision by some of the aspirants to remain in office after initially rendering their resignations and being treated to a farewell on Friday, May 13 by the president, who had ordered them to resign before May 16, constitutes a gross contravention of Section 306 (2) of the Nigerian Constitution.  

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The section stipulates that “The resignation of any person from any office established by this Constitution shall take effect when the writing signifying the resignation is received by the authority or person to whom it is addressed or by any person authorised by that authority or person to receive it.” 

Falana, therefore, submitted that “if the former ministers are going to be reappointed the president is required by Section 147 of the Constitution to submit names to the Senate for fresh screening and confirmation.”