…..Also faults timing of resignation
Festus Keyamo, Minister of Aviation and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, has faulted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s continued use of the federal government’s official Coat of Arms, 18 years after leaving office as Vice President.
Recall that Atiku Abubakar left office as the Vice President of Nigeria in May 2007, at the expiration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s presidency.
Citing Section 6 of the Flag and Coat of Arms Act, Cap. F30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, Keyamo said the Act makes Atiku’s use of the Coat of Arms an offence.
The former Vice President had used the letter-headed paper containing the Coat of Arm in his letter of resignation from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Wednesday, which he addressed to the party’s Ward Chairman.
Keyamo stated that “ it is both morally and legally wrong to continue to use the Coat of Arms of the Federal Government in your private or political communications when you stopped being a functionary of the Federal Government more than 18 years ago”
Read also: Atiku’s exit further weakens Nigeria’s main opposition party
Section 6 of the Act places restrictions on using the National Flag, the National Coat of Arms and the Royal Coat of Arms
The Act states that “ Any person who, otherwise than in conformity with the terms of a licence granted by the Minister or under other lawful authority, uses or displays (a) in connection with the carrying on of any business, trade, profession or calling, or (b) in connection with the activities of any body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, the National Flag, the National Coat of Arms or the Coat of Arms of royalty as Head of the Commonwealth, or any flag or arms so closely resembling that flag or either of those coat of arms that they might reasonably be taken to be that flag or coat of arms, shall be
guilty of an offence against this Act.
Section 9 of the Act also requires approval of Licences for the use, by the appropriate authorities ( Minister), which “may be subject to terms and conditions”
“ (1) Licences issued by the Minister under the provisions of this Act shall contain such terms and conditions as the Minister may deem fit and may at any time be revoked, amended or altered by the Minister.
“ (2) All applications for such licences shall be in writing addressed to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry having authority in matters to which this Act relates, and shall contain such information as the Minister may, from time to time, require.
Section 10 of the Act also placed “Penalty”, for the violation of the Act.
According to section 10 of the AC” Any person guilty of an offence against this Act shall be liable to a fine of one hundred naira and in the case of a continuing offence to a fine of ten naira for every day or
part of a day during which the offence is continued after the day on which such person is first convicted.”
Read also; Atiku berates Tinubu as Trump snubs Nigeria
The Aviation Minister also faulted the timing of Atiku Abubakar’s resignation letter, stating that it contradicts moral requirements, since the nation was still mourning the death of late President Muhammadu Buhari
Keyamo stated that “whilst I acknowledge that it is within your constitutional right to change political Parties at anytime you may wish, however, releasing your letter of resignation from the PDP during this week of the mourning of our immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, is clearly an attempt to draw the spotlight away from such a solemn occasion and direct it on yourself.
“In fact (as the image below shows) you prepared, typed, signed and delivered that letter the morning after the passing away of the former President was announced.
“With the greatest respect to you, this clearly demonstrates that your obsession with your perennial Presidential ambition knows no sympathy or empathy.
“Morally, it is also reprehensible to use a symbol suggesting that you are acting on behalf of the authority that symbol represents. It borders on impersonation. Imagine a situation where all former Government functionaries continue to use the Coat of Arms of Nigeria in their personal, political or private communications. There would certainly be confusion everywhere.
“I have a bounden duty both as a Cabinet member and a member of the Inner Bar to protect our laws and constitution.
