Clampdown On Pro-Buhari Senator: Court gives Saraki, Senate seven days to reply

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has given a
seven-day ultimatum to the Senate and other parties to respond to a
suit challenging its investigation of the senator representing the
Delta central senatorial district, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Mr. Omo-Agege was investigated and subsequently suspended for
accusing his colleagues of working against President Muhammadu
Buhari.

The court presided by Nnamdi Dimbga made the ruling after
declaring that the time for the defence, including Senate President
Bukola Saraki, to file their response to the motion brought by Mr
Omo-Agege had been abridged.

Mr Omo-Agege is asking the court to stop the Nigerian Senate
from implementing the report of the Senate’s’s ethics and
privileges committee which investigated comments made by him in
February.

Mr Omo-Agege had alleged during a sitting in February that the
proposed electoral amendment by the National Assembly was a plot
against President Muhammadu Buhari.

After making the statement, Mr Omo-Agege later apologised to his
colleagues.

Following an observation by Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, the
matter was handed over to the Senate’s’s committee on ethics and
privileges for investigation.

But after the committee began its investigation, Mr Omo-Agege
approached the court, seeking an order preventing the Senate from
taking any action from the findings made by the committee.

Mr Omo-Agege also asked the committee to suspend its
investigations pending the determination of the matter in
court.

The committee has, however, submitted its findings to the
Senate, which resulted in the suspension of Mr Omo-Agege on
Thursday for 90 days.

During its previous hearing, the court refused an ex-parte
motion filed by Mr Omo-Agege and asked the respondents in the suit
to appear before it on Friday for hearing on the motion.

Mr Dimgba also said the court would ensure accelerated hearing
on the matter.

The respondents were all absent during Friday’s hearing.

Mr Dimbga therefore ruled that considering his earlier decision
to ensure accelerated hearing into the application, the time for
the respondents to file their replies was over.

He ordered the respondents to file their responses, within seven
days from Friday, April, 13.

According to the order, the date for the submission of
respondents’ briefs elapses April 20. The plaintiff is then
expected to file his reply to the respondents’ briefs within three
working days from his date of receipt.

The respondents in the suit are the Senate, the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki, and the Attorney General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The case was adjourned till April 27 for hearing on the
application.

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has given a
seven-day ultimatum to the Senate and other parties to respond to a
suit challenging its investigation of the senator representing the
Delta central senatorial district, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Mr. Omo-Agege was investigated and subsequently suspended for
accusing his colleagues of working against President Muhammadu
Buhari.

The court presided by Nnamdi Dimbga made the ruling after
declaring that the time for the defence, including Senate President
Bukola Saraki, to file their response to the motion brought by Mr
Omo-Agege had been abridged.

Mr Omo-Agege is asking the court to stop the Nigerian Senate
from implementing the report of the Senate’s’s ethics and
privileges committee which investigated comments made by him in
February.

Mr Omo-Agege had alleged during a sitting in February that the
proposed electoral amendment by the National Assembly was a plot
against President Muhammadu Buhari.

After making the statement, Mr Omo-Agege later apologised to his
colleagues.

Following an observation by Kogi State senator, Dino Melaye, the
matter was handed over to the Senate’s’s committee on ethics and
privileges for investigation.

But after the committee began its investigation, Mr Omo-Agege
approached the court, seeking an order preventing the Senate from
taking any action from the findings made by the committee.

Mr Omo-Agege also asked the committee to suspend its
investigations pending the determination of the matter in
court.

The committee has, however, submitted its findings to the
Senate, which resulted in the suspension of Mr Omo-Agege on
Thursday for 90 days.

During its previous hearing, the court refused an ex-parte
motion filed by Mr Omo-Agege and asked the respondents in the suit
to appear before it on Friday for hearing on the motion.

Mr Dimgba also said the court would ensure accelerated hearing
on the matter.

The respondents were all absent during Friday’s hearing.

Mr Dimbga therefore ruled that considering his earlier decision
to ensure accelerated hearing into the application, the time for
the respondents to file their replies was over.

He ordered the respondents to file their responses, within seven
days from Friday, April, 13.

According to the order, the date for the submission of
respondents’ briefs elapses April 20. The plaintiff is then
expected to file his reply to the respondents’ briefs within three
working days from his date of receipt.

The respondents in the suit are the Senate, the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki, and the Attorney General of the
Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN).

The case was adjourned till April 27 for hearing on the
application.