Reps fail stay proceeding in Jibrin’s case against Dogara

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has refused to stay the proceeding of case against Abdulmumin Jibrin against Speaker Yakubu Dogara.

Jibrin is challenging his suspension from the House of Representatives.

The Kano lawmaker fell out with the House after he accused the leadership of “illegally padding the 2016 budget.”

Sequel to that, Jibrin was barred from the House for 180 legislative days on Wednesday, September 28, 2016.

On Friday, April 13, 2017, the chairman House committee rules, Emmanuel Oker-Jev and Ossai Ossai, chairman House committee ethics, had applied to join the suit in the lower court but they were denied.

They proceeded to the Appeal Court to apply for a stay of proceedings in the case.

At the Appeal Court on Thursday, June 1, 2017, the three-man panel of judges led by Abdul Aboki said that they do not grant such application.

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Counsel to Jibrin, Femi Falana, had earlier told the court that the application lacked merit.

Falana said those seeking to join the suit did not seek permission of the court before bringing such an application before it.

He prayed the court to grant an expeditious hearing as the constituents of Jibrin have been illegally denied representation for almost a year.

After listening to the counsels, the panel dismissed the application and ordered that the substantive matter be heard at the federal high court, Abuja.

Hearing for Jibrin’s appeal challenging his suspension has been fixed for Tuesday, June 12, 2017.