By Olufemi Olayinka, Abuja
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday struck out one of the two suits filed by Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, challenging the withdrawal of his security details by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba, following his defection to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
The presiding judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed, struck out the suit after Tambuwal’s counsel, Tunji Abayomi, brought an application to discontinue the suit, as he explained that he was instructed by the Speaker to withdraw the suit
Counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and the Inspector a General of Poloce, IGP, Ade Okeaya – Inneh did not oppose the application, but urged that the court should award costs against the Speaker because some persons had joined issues in the case by filing counter affidavit and reply on the merits of the suit.
The judge however ruled that the defence only responded to the preliminary motion for injunction to restrain the IGP from withdrawing his security details and not the motion on notice, as he decline to making any cost against the Speaker.
Tambuwal in his suit had urged the court to reinstate his security details on the basis that the IGP reserve no constitutional right to withdraw his security details without the order of a competent court.
In the second suit filed in which the Speaker is challenging the withdrawal of his security aides and seeking to stop the House of Representatives from removing him as the Speaker, the court adjourned hearing till November 27.
Tambuwal’s counsel in the suit, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led about seven other senior advocates and 65 lawyers, brought an application to amend the originating summons.
In the amended application, Tambuwal wants the court to determine whether the AGF and IG can interprete the Constitution to mean that they have powers to withdraw his aides.
Meanwhile, two members of Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto State have filed an application to be joined in the suit by Speaker challenging the alleged plot by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to remove him as Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Bala Konkani and Sambo Bello Modo, chairmen of Kebbe and Tambuwal local government areas respectively had presented a motion on notice through their counsel. Isreal Ologundare, urging the court to join them as interested parties in the suit which pursues to remove Tambuwal as Speaker.
Justice Mohammed however ordered the parties to file their responses to the application for joinder and another application for amendment of processes by Tambuwal’s counsel.
The Judge therefore adjourned the case to November 28 for hearing.