The presidency has said that Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, did not breach any section of the Nigerian constitution by going on a 10-day private visit to London, without transmitting power to Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
Last Thursday, Buhari left the country for the UK and he is expected back into the country on May 5.
In an interview with New Telegraph, Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, called on those claiming the President breached a section of constitution by traveling without passing on power to his deputy to cite the relevant sections of the constitution that Buhari breached.
Femi Falana, human rights lawyer, had earlier described Buhari’s visit to the UK as illegal.
Falana said: “The President is not permitted by the constitution to abandon the enormous responsibilities of his office for 10 days on account of a private visit to the United Kingdom or any other country whatsoever.”
Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution states that whenever the President is travelling out of the country on vacation, he must transmit a letter to the National Assembly.
However, Shehu said that although in the past the President was known to hand over to Osinbajo whenever he embarked on such trip, it was not because the constitution demanded it but out of convention.
He said: “He has not done anything wrong. If anyone has a penalty in line with the constitution, he should come up with it.
“The President can give instruction anywhere, even on air. If the President gives instruction outside the country to a director to construct a road, do they mean that the staff will disobey such an order?”
