Buhari keeps mum as Nigerians condemn his violation of NAPTIP Act

The office of the President on Thursday declined comment when asked why the law establishing Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency, National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), was jettisoned in selecting the agency’s new head.

Calls and a text message to the known line of presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, on Thursday, were not acknowledged or replied.

Mr Shehu had, on Tuesday, announced the appointment of Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim as the new director-general of NAPTIP.

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim as the new Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).

— Garba Shehu (@GarShehu) December 1, 2020

She was appointed after incumbent Julie Okah-Donli was suddenly sacked, having not completed her four-year tenure as she was appointed in April 2017.

PREMIUM TIMES, however, found that both officials do not have the required qualifications for the agency’s top job.

Section 8(1) of the NAPTIP Act 2015 mandates the director-general of the agency to be from the directorate cadre of the public service or its equivalent in any of the law enforcement agencies.

Before being appointed, Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim was a political appointee, working for the minister of state for education as a special adviser on strategic communication.

On the other hand, Mrs Okah-Donli, a lawyer, was a legal adviser of the Nigerian Capital Market Institute, an executive assistant to former Governor Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa, and head of the Abuja branch and northern region for UBA Trustees.

The spokesperson to Abubakar Malami, the minister of justice and attorney-general of the federation, Umar Gwandu, directed all inquiries on the NAPTIP matter to the ministry of humanitarian affairs, whose spokesperson, Halima Oyelade, again declined comment.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, is also yet to reply to a message sent to him seeking comment.

Nigerians on twitter have meanwhile been asking why the sacked director-general was appointed in the first place despite her work experience not fulfilling the legal requirements for the job.

They also blamed the president for lack of due diligence in the latest appointment.

Some commentators demanded that Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s appointment be revoked, while a qualified director-general is appointed for NAPTIP.

Read some of their tweets below:

Buhari violates or britches everything without consequences @nassnigeria the legislative arm is suppose to be the watchdog, why have you become so toothless #BuhariMustGo https://t.co/8oEBLrhPzy

— oyinane usman (@diplomatikyoyee) December 2, 2020

If the DG of @naptipnigeria knows that there is a violation of their Act by the appointment made by Major General @MBuhari then the woman should refuse to step aside . https://t.co/F4tgNmrVwN

— Nimrod (@GhenhisKhan) December 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/KidBold/status/1334127384212213771

Buhari doesn't rate this country even a bit. He feels he is the law and Nigeria is one room apartment that you just pick anything and drop anywhere. God save us

— Fabian (@fab_para) December 2, 2020

"Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim, a politician and businesswoman (dealing in Mary Kay products)"

No mystery here. Simply Google "Hanzy Beauty Institute". https://t.co/N1HHUPC422

— Matthew T. Page (@MatthewTPage) December 2, 2020

"Anyhowness" is one of the hallmark of Buhari's government.
They're never aware.

Shame! https://t.co/S9hksV8Ujz

— Akintunde O. Babatunde (@olorunwababs) December 2, 2020

Umahi was complaining about injustice to Igbo people and decided to join Buharig’s APC to fight it 🤡🤡🤡 https://t.co/WDtdFSfEqF

— Akinsola (@SRdollar) December 2, 2020

Heh, heh, heh. Both the asiwaju and the successor failed to meet the statutory requirements for the job. Wonderment.

"Meanwhile, Julie Okah-Donli, who Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim succeeded on Tuesday, was also not qualified for the top job she held for close to four years." https://t.co/UQs57XJ8sx

— Bolaji Olatunde (@BOLMOJOLA) December 2, 2020

see these people o , have we been following any act since these government came into power ? pls go and check we don't.

now u will know why they hated and wanted Saraki and dino out of the Senate . #EndSARS #ENDBADGOVERNANCE #BuhariMustGo https://t.co/W7ktP2yXQG

— Lrd kingagbochi II (@Sayfriyoo) December 2, 2020

https://twitter.com/djeyebee/status/1334020241366654976