Jibrin slams N1bn suit on reps after suspension

Abdulmumin Jibrin, suspended member of the house of representatives, says he has filed fresh charges against the lower chamber of the national assembly, seeking, among seven reliefs, N1 billion in damages.

In a statement on Friday, Chukwuma Nwachukwu, his counsel, said Jibrin asked the court to declare that the resolution passed by the house suspending him was in breach of Section 68 of the constitution as amended.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we have also filed a fresh suit by way of an Originating summons in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/ 812/16 in Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin vs. The Speaker, House of Represebtatives & 2 ORS, which is  currently pending before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court 3 Abuja,” the statement read.

The reliefs sought by Jibrin are: “A declaration that the suspension of the plaintiff from the floor of the House of Representatives for 180 legislative days commencing from the 28th day of September 2016 is a violation of the Plaintiff’s fundamental right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (cap. A9) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

“A Declaration that the resolution passed by the defendants on the floor of the 2nd Defendant on the 28th day of September 2016 suspending the Plaintiff from the floor of the 2nd Defendant for 180 legislative days is in breach of the provisions of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic (as amended) and Section 21 and 24 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2004 and Order 10 rule 6 of the standing orders of the house of representatives.

“A declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Chapter VII, paragraph 7.5 of the ‘Code of Conduct for Honourable Members’, the plaintiff or any member of the 2nd Defendant has a duty to expose corrupt practices in the 2nd Defendant.

“An order of this honourable court setting aside the purported suspension of the plaintiff from the house of representatives for 180 legislative days forthwith.

“An order of injunction restraining the Defendants from preventing the Plaintiff from participating in the committees of the 2nd defendant or accessing his legislative chambers or compelling the Plaintiff to tender an apology to the Defendants or any member of the 2nd defendant before he is allowed into the chambers of the 2nd defendant to perform his legislative duties.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the Plaintiff his outstanding salaries, accrued allowances and all other entitlements due to him from the date of his suspension from the floor of the house of representatives until the judgment of this honourable court is executed.

“The sum of N1, 000,000, 000.00 (One Billion Naira) being general damages for the suspension of the Plaintiff for 180 legislative days from the floor of the 2nd defendant.”

John Tsoho, the judge, adjourned the matter to November 22 for hearing of the suit.

The former appropriations chairman had alleged that Yakubu Dogara, the speaker, and four other principal officers padded the budget by N40 billion.