Speaker extols Judiciary over judgement
APC in crucial meeting over PDP threat
By Ameh Ejekwonyilo and Bode Olagoke, Abuja
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja yesterday stopped the House of Representatives from re-convening before November 7 when the suit filed by the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, would be heard.
Ruling on the motion ex parte, the trial judge held that parties in the suit should maintain status quo until the substantive suit was heard.
He further ordered the defendants in the suit to appear on the next adjourned date to show cause why Tambuwal’s prayers should not be granted. He later adjourned till November 7.
Tambuwal had approached the court yesterday through an exparte application seeking an order of interim injunction stopping the House of Representatives from re-convening and removing him from office pending the determination of the suit he filed on Friday.
Joined in the suit were the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its national chairman, Adamu Mu’azu, House of Representatives, Deputy Speaker of the house of Representatives, Inspector General of Police, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Attorney General of the Federation as first to seventh defendants.
Tambuwal had, on Friday, November 31, 2014, filed a motion on notice at the registry seeking to stop his removal from office and restoration of his security aides.
In a related development, members of the APC caucus in the House of Representatives, led by Femi Gbajabiamila, yesterday stormed the same federal high court sitting in Abuja to file a suit seeking to stop the house from re-convening.
The plaintiffs also want the court to stop the House from removing Tambuwal as the speaker of the house.
In the suit filed by Tambuwal himself, he prays the court to stop the INEC from conducting a bye-election to fill up his position pending the determination of the suit.
In addition, the speaker also wants the court to stop the federal government and its agents from further interfering in his rights and privileges as Speaker, pending the determination of the suit.
Also, the plaintiff is praying for an order of mandatory injunction directing the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General of the Federation to restore to him security details, rights, benefits and privileges.
Meanwhile, the national leadership of the APC last night summoned its National Assembly members to what it called an “emergency and strategic meeting” apparently meant to plan ahead of the ruling PDP over an alledged plan to unseat Tambuwal.
At the meeting, Tambuwal led all other members of the House to the meeting held at the party’s secretariat, presided by the National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun.
Addressing the meeting last night, Oyegun, who commended Tambuwal for coming into the party at the time he did, said: “As if that is not enough, the very arrogant, naked and childish impunity of the federal government is today making you one of the most popular men nationwide. It is becoming so clear that for a few times. The APC has had a fusion of adrenaline and your coming into the APC is the latest infusion of adrenaline that the party can have.
“Your coming into the party is at a time when the contrast between us and them is becoming very clear. You were publicly presented for the first time at one of the most successful conventions that any party can hold and, a few days later, the PDP is having one of the most disastrous ward congresses that is the worst fear of any party.
“You can see clearly the hand of God that this nation is on the path of salvation and the APC is clearly the ambit for that salvation for the survival and the rescue of this nation. I want to thank you once again for giving us the opportunity to make the distinction between the APC and the others”.
Turning to the press, Oyegun said: “We are here for a strategising session, consultative session, which unfortunately we have to do behind closed doors”.
Although the agenda of the meeting was not immediately clear, it is believed that the recent moves by the government to reconvene the House of Representatives and the withdrawal of the security details of the speaker.
In his reaction to yesterday’s court order, Tambuwal has extolled the Nigerian Judiciary.
He told reporters last night after an emergency meeting with the party leadership: “I expected nothing less from the Nigerian judiciary that has over time proven to be judicious…well, I think I don’t have to comment on that. Let me avoid that.
“But I have this to say that this is not about me. It is about the institution of the National Assembly. It is about our hard-earned democracy and I commend lovers of democracy on this country and beyond for their support for the sustenance of our democracy.”
Speaking on the the outcome of the meeting, the party spokesman, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said: “We met to deliberate on the issue of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, especially the rough tackles that the PDP-led federal government is leveling.
But the ground has been softened before the meeting by the ruling of Justice Mohammed who asked that status quo be maintained and that the House cannot reconvene until November 7 when the parties are before him. What we did after was to take briefings from all the members and the party in respect of our coming convention and primaries. That is the sum total of our discussions.”
He welcomed the decision of the court to maintain the status quo, saying, “It actually follows the rule of law. It means that the attempt to illegally reconvene at least cannot materialise and everybody will have to maintain status quo until November 7.”