We receive with surprise the statement credited to the Buhari regime implying that the Nigerian ambassador to USA was among those not reappointed after a “performance evaluation.”

We wish to point out it was MG Buhari who singlehandedly appointed Justice Sylvanus Nsofor ambassador to USA as a reward for his ruling in his favor in an election case. He was not nominated by his home state.

Buhari’s appointment of Justice Nsofor was despite knowledge that at the court of appeal he was rejected for elevation to the Supreme Court due to debilitating inadequacies. As a result, a younger and sounder justice from the southeast was appointed to the Supreme Court instead of him.

Indeed the new autobiography of his presiding justice at the court of appeal in Port Harcourt said that as at 20 years ago, efforts were made not to overwork him due to his age then. “Justice Under the Shadow of the Almighty – autobiography of a distinguished justice” by Justice J.O. Ogebe.

Incidentally although published in 2020, the book had been drafted long before Justice Nsofor was appointed ambassador in his 80s.

The book also revealed that even as military head of state MG Buhari had a pattern of rewarding judges who agreed to compromise the judiciary in a manner that distorted judicial seniority and undermined the system.

But even without this background information, the Nigerian senate refused to confirm Justice Nsofor after he was truculent and recalcitrant during his confirmation hearing. He and another career diplomat who could not recite the national pledge of allegiance were forced through by the president despite their poor performance and rewarded with ambassadorships to USA and Indonesia by MG Buhari.

It is therefore uncalled for and unfair to imply that his Lordship Nsofor is being dropped for non-performance when this was known over 20 years ago.

This is another instance of intentional “unawareness” of MG Buhari. This appointment was for his personal interest and not the interest of Justice Nsofor’s state or of 200 million Nigerians.

Buhari should not therefore attempt to disgrace this retired jurist who did not ask for compensation from Buhari for ruling on his behalf by claiming performance issues.

It is important the facts be known so Nigerians are informed that Buhari exported his same failed lethargic failure abroad to US too.

When Nigeria was tagged a terrorist nation by a previous administration, Nigeria’s ambassador then met with President Obama and got it over turned. Trump has banned Nigerians from migrating to the US and there has been no commensurate response from the current ambassador.

Ambassador Nsofor leaves with the worst US action against Nigerians in place and unchallenged.

It is hoped that more capable hands are sent to the world’s top diplomatic post to rectify the deficit for the betterment of US Nigeria bilateral relations.

• Emmanuel Ogebe US Nigeria Law Group