All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers moved fast yesterday to
correct what they saw as a wrong interpretation of the Federal High Court’s
ruling.
The party caucus in the House of Representatives said Justice Adeniyi
Ademola did not ask the 37 lawmakers to vacate their seats.
According to the caucus, the judgment was that the 37 members could not
participate in the removal of principal officers.
“Other pronouncements by the judge as to the status of our 37 members
were mere opinion,” the caucus said.
The lawmakers, who spoke with reporters after plenary, said the ruling
had confirmed their worst fears and accused their colleagues in the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) of being “in collusion with a certain judge to turn
facts and law on its head to achieve sinister ends”.
Minority Whip Samson Osagie, who read a statement titled: “Justice
Adeniyi Ademola’s judgment on 37 APC Representatives: at last our fears have
been confirmed”, on behalf of the caucus, said: “The judgment has turned law on
its head and cannot stand.”
The caucus accused the judge of “veering off the course of the case
before him to do the bidding of the ruling party.”
The 37 affected members yesterday appealed the ruling via a letter from
their solicitors, M.A. Mahmud (SAN) & Co.
The appeal is on seven grounds of “Error in Law”.
The statement, presented by Osagie, reads: “Yesterday (Monday) a Federal
High Court presided over by Justice Adeniyi Ademola handed down a ruling in
which he restrained 37 APC members, who joined our great party on December 18,
last year from effecting the change of leadership in the House of
Representatives, thereby granting the prayers of the plaintiffs – the PDP in the
suit.
“For us in the APC, we were not surprised because in the course of the
proceedings, the same judge issued a preservative order as soon as the
arguments against his jurisdiction in the case was taken. This was our first
apprehension at the commencement of the case.
“Our fears were further confirmed when the judge, after granting the
reliefs sought in the suit, went ahead to render an opinion on the issues that
were not before him nor solicited by the plaintiffs.
“Consequently, a section of the media and indeed the public have been
misled by the court ruling into believing that the judgment has terminated the
tenure of office of the affected members. This is not only untrue, but also a
mere obiter dicta expressed by a judge, who veered off the course of the case
before him to do the bidding of the ruling party. At best, the judgment has
turned law on its head and cannot stand.”
Osagie said the affected members had taken steps to appeal the judgment
and that they are confident that justice will prevail, adding that there is no
judgment before the House, directing any member of the APC to vacate his or her
seat.
He added: “In any event, Section 68 (2) of the 1999 Constitution makes
it clear that satisfactory evidence must be presented to the House before any
of the provision, of S.68 (1) can become applicable. At the moment, the APC in
the House remains strong and focused on the need to provide necessary checks
and balances to the ship of the state as being piloted by the ruling party.
“At a time when this government is unable to explain to Nigerians the
whereabouts of huge missing funds; at a time when profligacy among ministers
has reached its crescendo; at a time when scores have been sent to their graves
under a scheme purported to be a recruitment sham; at a time when government
assets in the power sector have been sold out with Nigerians experiencing more
darkness than light; at a time when insecurity and insurgency have almost
defied government emergency rule and at a time when mis-governance has taken a
centre stage, while Nigerians are wallowing in penury, the PDP government has
continued to run the country like the private fiefdom of those holding the
reins of power.
“Nigerians, we know, cannot succumb to the shenanigans of the ruling
party that has plundered this nation for 15 years.
“The House of Representatives remains the bastion of hope of the
traumatised and pauperised Nigerians and we shall not give in to the attempt of
some of our PDP colleagues in collusion with a certain judge to turn facts and
law on its head to achieve sinister ends.
“Finally, for the avoidance of doubt, let me state on behalf our members
that the import of yesterday ruling was that our 37 members cannot participate
in the removal of principal officers of the House; nothing more, nothing less.
“Every other pronouncements by the judge as to the status of our 37
members of the House were mere opinion, In any event, this judgment was given
in vain and in ignorance of the House rules, which govern the appointment of
party leaders in the parliament. It is also an attempt by the court to
meddle in the internal affairs of the parliament.”
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Nass
For better understanding to our honourable members in the house of Representatives. Forget grammar judge says defect & loss ur seat remain & maintain ut seat. U can't work in NNPC & collect salary from SHELL.If u want join another party, it is not when another gives u itd platform to run & win.Else lots of pplr in future will enter dominant party in their regions & after winning dumps it to party of their choice.
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