Senate President Bukola Saraki
The Federal High Court, in Abuja, on Tuesday gave a warning saying
it will not allow any unlawful move to remove Senate President Bukola
Saraki from office, pending the determination of a suit filed by some
senators in that regards, according to Nigerian Tribune.
Recalled that Senator Rafiu Adebayo (Kwara South) and Senator Isa
Misau (Bauchi Central) had dragged the Attorney General of the
Federation and Minister of Justice, the Inspector General of Police and
the State Security Services to court in a bid to restrain them from
aiding the forceful removal or impeachment of the Senate President from
office.
Cited as defendants in the matter were the Senate, the Senate
President, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawal (Senate Leader),
Senator Bala Ibn Nallah (Deputy Senate Leader), Senator Emma Buacha
(Deputy Minority Leader), Clerk of the Senate, Deputy Clerk of the
Senate, the Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of
Police and the State Security Service, SSS.
When the matter came up yesterday, plaintiffs’ counsel Emeka Etiaba
(SAN) informed the court that he had a motion exparte dated August 27,
2018, and filed same day.
Etiaba said the exparte motion basically sought an order of interim
injunction (in reliefs 1, 2, and 3), restraining the defendants from
taking any untoward action or move to forcefully remove or impeach the
Senate President from office and reliefs 4 and 5 prayed the court for an
order of substituted service of court processes on the defendants.
Etiaba told the court that, in the event, the court was constrained
to grant reliefs 1, 2, and 3, “Our alternative prayer is for the court
to make preservatory orders in order to protect the res (subject matter)
of the suit.
In a short ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba held that, in respect of reliefs 1, 2, and 3, which are orders of interim injunction,
“I
believe the proper order to make is an order of accelerated hearing of
the suit so that the court can consider and determine the merits of the
substantive case expeditiously.
“Even though reliefs 1, 2, and 3, are not granted, needless to
say, parties have been enjoined to respect the authority of the court
and the integrity of the judicial process and should not take steps that
will render the matter nugatory.”
The court granted reliefs 4 and 5, and directed substituted service
of court processes, the originating summons and motion for injunction
on the 1st to 8th defendants through the clerk of the National Assembly
and also ordered substituted service on the 10th to 12th defendants by
courier service.
The court adjourned till September 6, 2018, for accelerated hearing of the originating summon.