Presidential spokesperson Femi Adesina on Thursday said President Muhammadu Buhari compensated two former justices with ambassadorial appointments because they delivered dissenting opinions in his favour over 2003 and 2007 election petition rulings.

Mr. Adesina, in an article he wrote to commemorate Mr. Buhari’s 78th birthday on Thursday, described Mr. Buhari as a loyal man who rewards his cronies and those who support him with appointments.

Justice George Oguntade and Justice Sylvester Nsofor, were appointed ambassadors to the UK and United States respectively because “they had given dissenting judgements at both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, nullifying the election results, saying Candidate Buhari had been cheated”, Mr. Adesina said.

“Among the last class of Ambassadors, he had personally picked Justice George Oguntade, who was sent to the United Kingdom, and Justice Sylvester Nsofor, who he deployed to America’, Mr. Adesina said. “How did the two men gain the favour, loyalty and respect of the President? In his many legal battles after disputed election results in 2003, and 2007, they had given dissenting judgements at both the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, nullifying the election results, saying Candidate Buhari had been cheated. The man never forgot, and sought them out in due time.”

Mr. Adesina, who parades himself as a diehard loyalist of Mr. Buhari, also added that most people working with Mr. Buhari including himself were compensated with appointment for their loyalty to Mr. Buhari.

Mr. Adesina’s comments bolster criticism that Mr. Buhari promotes cronyism above merit in deciding appointments, a claim the administration had relentlessly denied.