Purchase of 820 buses probe: Court adjourns Ambode’s suit to Nov. 20

An Ikeja High court on Wednesday fixed Nov. 20 to hear the suit
filed by former Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State against his
being probed by the State House of Assembly over the purchase of
820 buses in the Bus Reform Project of his administration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ambode had
instituted the civil suit against the State Assembly; its Speaker,
Mr Mudashiru Obasa; and the House Clerk, Mr A.A. Sanni.

Other respondents in the suit are Mr Fatai Mojeed, the Chairman
of the ad-hoc Committee set up by the House to probe the
procurement of the buses and the other eight members of the
Committee.

The eight ad-hoc committee members were Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, Mr
A.A. Yusuf, Mr Yinka Ogundimu, Mrs Mojisola Meranda, Mr M.L.
Makinde, Mr Kehinde Joseph, Mr Temitope Adewale and Mr Olanrewaju
Afinni.

On Oct. 29, following a Motion ex-parte moved by Ambode’s
counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), Justice Yetunde Adesanya, ordered
that the lawmakers appear before the court on Oct. 30 in connection
with the ongoing probe.

NAN reports that during Wednesday’s proceedings, the lawmakers
were absent in court.

They were however all represented by a counsel, Mrs Adenike
Oshinowo.

Oyetibo, informed the court that all the respondents had been
served with the court processes the previous day.

“Your lordship directed that we serve the respondents with the
Application of Notice which has been done.

“We are ready for the Application of Notice filed on Oct. 28 and
all the originating processes have been served,” Oyetibo told the
court as the case was called up.

Responding, Oshinowo informed the court that the lawmakers will
be opposing the Motion and that the respondents were served the
court documents very late the previous day.

“We were served the Motion on Notice very late yesterday my lord
and we shall be opposing the Motion.

“We shall be asking the court for a date to regularise our
processes,” she said.

Following the submissions of counsel, Justice Adesanya while
adjourning the case, ordered parties to maintain the status
quo.

“This case is adjourned to Nov. 20 at the instance of both
counsel for hearing,” the judge ruled.

NAN reports that Ambode is seeking a court injunction
restraining the lawmakers to compel him to appear before them
pursuant to a resolution passed by the House of Assembly on Aug. 27
as well as any other resolution passed in respect of the buses
probe .

The former governor also sought another injunction restraining
the respondents from representing or continuing to represent to the
public that he procured 820 buses in breach of budgetary
approval.

The claimant wants a court declaration that the powers of the
State Assembly under Sections 103, 128 and 129 of the 1999
Constitution as amended did not include power to indict him as
contemplated by Sections 66(1)(h), 137(1)i and 182(1)i of the
Constitution.

Ambode also seeks a court Declaration that the provisions of
Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 9 of the Appropriation Law of Lagos
State 2018 requiring the approval of the House of Assembly before
certain expenditure of money is incurred by the executive branch of
the state is not in accordance with Constitutional provisions.