The leadership crisis at the Investments and Securities Tribunal (IST) has taken a fresh turn, with Plateau State APC elders asking the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, to respect and implement President Bola Tinubu’s reappointment of Hon. Amos Isaac Azi as chairman of the tribunal.
The elders warned that the unresolved dispute could trigger avoidable litigation and expose the Federal Government to public embarrassment, urging the SGF to intervene before the matter escalates.
The Plateau APC Elders Advisory Council made the appeal in separate letters to Akume and the National Chairman of the APC, Dr Nentawe Yilwatda, seeking their intervention in the controversy over who should head the tribunal.
In a letter signed by its Chairman, Ambassador Danladi Wuyep, and Secretary, Dr Musa Garba Musa, the council alleged that Azi was removed barely a month after assuming office following his reappointment by Tinubu in August 2025.
The elders claimed that another individual, Mr Aminu Junaidu, from Zamfara State, subsequently arrived at the tribunal’s headquarters with armed men to take over the chairmanship.
They said Azi’s restraint prevented the incident from degenerating into a confrontation.
The council asked Akume to examine the circumstances surrounding the competing appointments, insisting that the presidential approval of Azi’s reappointment had passed through the necessary procedures under the relevant law.
It also questioned the circumstances surrounding an appointment letter reportedly presented by Junaidu, which the elders said bore the SGF’s signature.
According to the council, Azi had previously helped stabilise the tribunal after inheriting an institution grappling with several crises. His performance, it claimed, earned him commendation letters from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
The elders said the then Minister of Finance subsequently recommended Azi for another tenure, a development that preceded Tinubu’s reappointment of him in August 2025.
They expressed disappointment that the presidential decision had become the subject of a leadership dispute, describing the situation as an injustice against an illustrious son of Plateau State.
The council also urged Akume to grant it an audience to discuss a possible political resolution and prevent the controversy from becoming a legal battle.
In its separate letter to Yilwatda, the elders called on the APC national chairman to use his influence to ensure that the President’s approval was implemented without further delay.
They warned that the controversy could create the impression of administrative lawlessness and undermine confidence in the Tinubu-led administration.
The council further argued that allowing the dispute to escalate could place both the government and the APC leadership in an embarrassing position, particularly if the matter proceeds to court.
The intervention comes amid mounting demands for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Azi’s removal.
The Plateau Democratic Movement (PDM) had earlier petitioned the Senate President and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), seeking an investigation into alleged abuse of office.
Similarly, the Make A Difference Initiative (MADI) had petitioned the Senate over what it described as a violation of the Investments and Securities Act 2025 by the SGF.
The latest development adds another layer to the controversy, with political stakeholders now seeking intervention from the Federal Government and the ruling party to resolve the competing claims over the tribunal’s leadership.