‘It’s unconstitutional’ – Lawyer slams Tinubu, Shettima over absence from Nigeria

Human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, has slammed President Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, over their absence from Nigeria at the same time.

Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Tuesday, Effiong described the simultaneous absence as a “brazen violation” of the 1999 Constitution.

He was discussing the constitutional implications of Tinubu’s extended stay abroad and Shettima’s trip to the United States for the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

DAILY POST recalls that President Tinubu has been outside Nigeria since August 30, when he travelled to London to begin a working vacation.

Similarly, Shettima left Abuja on September 20 to represent Tinubu and lead Nigeria’s delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York.

According to Effiong, Section 145 of the Constitution requires presidential authority to be formally transferred when the President proceeds on vacation or is otherwise unable to perform the functions of his office.

“Under Section 145, subsection one, under the Constitution, presidential powers are powers that are domiciled exclusively in the President, namely the powers of the Commander-in-Chief. It is not delegable,” he said.

The lawyer further stated that there are constitutional functions that can only be performed by the President or an Acting President.

“That is the wisdom of Section 145 in saying that at all times there has to be a substantive President or an Acting President,” Effiong added.