By Ameh Ejekwonyilo
Abuja
Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed of a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday struck out the suit filed by speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, challenging the withdrawal of his security details by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) due to his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Justice Mohammed struck out the suit after Tambuwal’s counsel, Tunji Abayomi, brought an application for discontinuance of the suit.
He said that he was instructed by the speaker to make the withdrawal.
Counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the IGP, Ade Okeaya Inneh, had opposed the application, arguing that the court should rather dismiss the suit and award costs against Tambuwal because parties had joined issues in the case by filing counter affidavit and filing reply on the merits of the suit.
However, the judge 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.
He made no order as to costs.
You would recall that Tambuwal had prayed the court to restore his security details on the grounds that the IGP had no constitutional powers to effect the removal of his security details without the order of a court.
In a related development, two members of Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency in Sokoto state had filed an application for joinder in the suit by Speaker Tambuwal challenging the alleged plans to remove him as speaker of the House of Representatives.
Bala Konkani and Sambo Bello Modo, chairmen of Kebbe and Tambuwal local government areas, brought a motion on notice through their counsel, Isreal Ologundare (SAN), praying the court to admit them as interested parties in the suit which seeks to remove Tambuwal as speaker and begin the process to recall him to his constituency in Sokoto state.
Justice Mohammed ordered the parties to file their responses to the application for joinder and another application for amendment of processes by Tambuwal’s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi.
He adjourned the suit till November 28 for hearing of the motion for joinder.