Law News
Court reserves ruling in Senate forgery suit

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday reserved judgment in a suit filed by five serving Senators, who are seeking to the removal Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

The plaintiffs asked the court to void the election of both Saraki and Ekweremadu on the grounds that Senate Standing Orders 2015 used for their elections was forged.

The plaintiffs in the suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/651/2015, are Senators Abu Ibrahim, Kabir Marafa, Ajayi Boroffice, Olugbenga Ashafa and Suleiman Hunkuyi.

Saraki, Ekweremadu, the National Assembly, the Clerks of the National Assembly and the Clerk of the Senate are the defendants.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola adjourned for judgment hearing after he adopted the final written addresses of the the lawyers to both parties.

The judge told parties that the court through its officials would contacted them whenever the judgment was ready.

The plaintiffs argued that since the Senate Standing Order 2011, which was the valid Senate Rules as at the proclamation of the 8th Senate on June 9, was not known to have been validly altered before the election, the 2015 Rules could not be said to be a legitimate document.

They stated, in a supporting affidavit, that the Senate Standing ýOrders 2015 was “contrived” from the amendment of the 2011 version of the Orders without following its (the 2011 edition’s) relevant provisions and those of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The plaintiffs argued that the said amendment was in breach of the “prescriptive procedures” stipulated by the extant provisions of section 60 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Rule 110(1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) of the Senate Standing Orders 2011 (as amended).

Justice Ademola took arguments from parties on the substantive suit and defendants’ preliminary objection on Monday.

Plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mamman Osuman (SAN), urged the court to disregard the defendants’ objection and grant his client’s prayers.

The defendants, represented by Kehinde Eleja (SAN), Ikechukwu Ezechukwu (SAN) and Miss Nancy Odimegwu, faulted the competence of the suit and urged the court to dismiss the suit.

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