The Federal High Court, Abuja has declined N500 million damages sought by Ali Ndume against the Nigerian senate for his suspension.

The court, however, declared that his suspension by the senate as illegal and ordered that all his outstanding salaries and allowances be settled.

Ndume, who was a former majority leader, was suspended for six months on March 30 by the Senate.

He was suspended for allegedly embarrassing the senate after asking it to investigate allegations against Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and Dino Melaye, lawmaker representing Kogi West Senatorial District.

Ndume‎ alleged that the senate was on a vengeance mission against Hameed Ali, comptroller-general of the Nigeria customs service, because a bullet-proof car allegedly belonging to Saraki was seized by customs while Melaye was accused of certificate forgery.

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which investigated the matter, recommended that Ndume be suspended.

In his ruling on Friday, Babatunde Quadri set aside the suspension and ordered that Ndume be allowed to resume his duties in the Senate.

“The suspension of the plaintiff [Ndume] is hereby declared illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional,” the judge said.

“The purported suspension contained in the letter of March 30 is hereby set aside.

“The first and second defendants [the senate president and the senate] are hereby directed to pay the plaintiff his outstanding salaries and allowances forthwith.”

“Relief on the issue of damages is hereby refused, because I hope this will facilitate reconciliation in the senate between the plaintiff and other members of the senate and bring peace to our nascent democracy.”