Court fixes October 13 to rule on Senator’s suit against Senate

Federal High Court on Wednesday in Abuja fixed Oct. 13 to rule in the suit filed by Sen. Ali Ndume challenging his suspension by the leadership of the Senate.

Justice Babatunde Quadri fixed the date after parties had argued their written addresses.

Marcel Oru, Counsel to Ndume, urged the court to grant all his prayers.

Ndume had prayed the court to declare the decision of the respondents null and void.

He also prayed for the order of court to compel the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and other principal officers of the senate to relax his suspension without delay.

Oru urged the court to dismiss the objection filed by the senate challenging the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit.

He canvassed further that the respondent lacked such privileges as it action was in violation of the law.

However, Mike Ozekhome (SAN), Counsel to the senate urged the court to first decide on his client’s notice of objection challenging the jurisdiction of the court to handle the matter.

He asked the court to uphold the objection on the ground that the plaintiff’s suspension was in line with the provision under the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act.

Ozekhome, therefore, prayed the court to dismiss the plaintiff’s suit for being unmeritorious.

Ndume, representing Borno Central Senatorial District in the senate filed the suit in response to his suspension by the senate leadership on March 30.

Ndume was suspended on disciplinary ground.

ALSO READ:Real reason why Ali Ndume was suspended for 6 months

He had at plenary drawn the attention of the senate to media report that the invitation of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, was due to seizure of a vehicle illegally imported by Saraki.

The senate sledge hammer also came down on the plaintiff for spotlighting media report about alleged fake Sen. Dino Melaye’s first degree certificate at plenary.