AFAN drags minister to court over food security breach, interference

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

For an alleged continued recognition of an illegal faction, undue interference and prolonged bitter campaign against it, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) said it has initiated legal proceedings against the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Sabo Nanono.

AFAN said the steps taken by the minister are capable of destabilising its internal democracy mechanism, and obstruct farmers efforts at working harmoniously with the federal government in attaining food security.

The position was made known through a release signed by Salisu Mukhtar, the Assistant Publicity Secretary of the umbrella body of farmers in the country, AFAN.

Recognition of the Faruk Mudi faction of the association in the full glare of the public, playing host to them in his office on several occasions and accepting invitations by them in spite of knowledge of the pending court case it said was contradictory to rule of law.

The alleged undue interference in the affairs of AFAN started immediately Alhaji Sabo Nanono, was appointed in 2019 as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, according to Mukhtar.

“Upon the appointment of Alhaji Mohammed Sabo Nanono as Minister of Agriculture, who was once removed as acting Chairman of AFAN Kano State chapter in 2007 for misappropriating fertilizer, the undue interference in AFAN activities began.”

AFAN it stated being as a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) is not a department in Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) and cannot be controlled or destroyed by any individual no matter how highly placed.

“Actions of the minister it said have become a mockery of the law

“This polarising act by a minister representing a constitutionally recognised administration of President Buhari, is undoubtedly antithetical to the rule of law and democratic norms, which are the bedrock of the administration he is serving under,” Murktar said.

AFAN is asking that the legal action in Court 9 of the Federal High Court (FHC) of Justice Taiwo Taiwo should be allowed to run out, especially by the Plaintiffs who filed the suit in the first place.

“Farmers as an extension of the national polity, who participated in and voted overwhelmingly for this administration, are irked by the actions of the minister, which is inadvertently truncating the association’s efforts at enjoying internal democracy nationwide.

“Justice must be allowed to take its course if AFAN is to continue to exist as the apex body of all farmer-associations by whatever name called in Nigeria,” he further stated.

AFAN it stated was registered in 2005 at Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC) with reg: 18160 and three registered Trustees namely Murtala Nyako, Dr Shettima Mustafa and Chief Femi Coker as the apex body of all farmer-associations by whatever name called in Nigeria.

The Publicity Secretary went on: “President Olusegun Obasanjo advised then that Murtala Nyako should head the management of AFAN as National President and the duo of Chief Femi Coker and Shettima Mustafa to be deputies 1 and 2 respectively pending general election.

“All other officers were appointed as interim management members in the same manner.

“AFAN elections did not hold until after Abdullahi Adamu former governor of Nasarawa State became the President.

“The elections from the Wards of 774 LGAs to the 36 states plus FCT took nearly two years to be concluded.

“The National Election was conducted in 2014 and the elected Executives duly inaugurated.

“From this point on AFAN began to be recognized as the umbrella of all farmer-associations in Nigeria guided by its constitution as an NGO.”

AFAN on the 6th of May, 2021, served the minister a pre-action notice through their attorney A.O Okeya and Associates for legal actions against his person, for unduly interfering and recognising the Mr Faruk Rabiu faction in the capacity of leaders of the association.

The pre-action notice accused Rabiu’s faction of circulating letters to AFAN state chairmen across the 36 states of the country including the Federal Capital Territory, under the directive of the minister asking them to purchase inputs supplied by the ministry through them at exorbitant prices.

According to the association’s attorney: “We were informed that on the 26th of April, 2021, the said Faruk Mudi through his Counsel M.M Bakari Esq, wrote a letter to your office intimating you about an election conducted by them, which you directed the Permanent Secretary of your ministry to advise all agencies to recognise this illegal faction, knowing fully well that there is a pending matter at the Federal High Court 9 Abuja.

“From the above, we demand that you desist from dealing, transacting, aiding and encouraging Faruk Mudi & Co to stop using your office to perpetrate injustice, as the leadership tussle is before a court of competent jurisdiction.

“Take notice therefore that this is a pre-action notice, as we shall seek redress in the law court and demand for damages against your person for aiding Faruk Mudi & Co to defraud AFAN members. You are warned.”