High court reverses summons on Gbajabiamila

Femi Gbajabiamila will no longer have to appear before an area court in Karshi, Abuja, on Monday.

A high court sitting in the federal capital territory (FCT) on Friday quashed the summons by the area court asking the aspirant to the speakership of the house of representatives to appear before it on June 10, 2019 — a day to the election of leaders by the national assembly.

The court has also ordered the area court to stay action “in whatsoever manner” on any matter relating to Gbajabiamila.

Anas Isah Mohammed, the area court judge, was further ordered by the high court to transmit certified record of proceedings before it within one week.

Othman Musa, a judge of the FCT high court, gave the order following an ex-parte motion filed by Gbajabiamila.

He had the African Peoples Party (APP) and the area court judge seeking two reliefs.

The reliefs are:

• An order of this Honorable Court granting leave to the Applicant to apply for judicial review for an order of certiorari to remove into this Honorable court for the purpose of its being quashed, the proceedings, decisions, criminal charge and Order of His Worship, Honorable Anas Isah Mohammed of Grade 1 Area Court, Karshi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, made on 30th May 2019 in Charge No: CR/349/2019 and Motion No. M/19/2019, between African Peoples Party (APP) Vs. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (AKA Femi Gbaja).
• An order of this Honourable Court staying all proceedings and hearing of the Criminal Charges, actions and decisions of His Worship, Hon. Anas Isah Mohammed of the Grade 1 Area Court, Karshi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, made on the 30th day of May, 2019, in Charge No.: CR/349/2019 and Motion No. M/19/2019, between African Peoples Party (APP) Vs. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila (AKA Femi Gbaja), which affects the subject-matter of this application pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice for an Order of Certiorari filed by the Applicant herein.

In his ruling, Justice Othman Musa granted the ex-parte prayers of the applicant

He said: “Where at any stage of proceedings before final  judgment In any cause or matter in an Area Court a person alleges that he is not subject to the jurisdiction of Area Court, the proceedings shall, on the application of that person to the High Court be transferred to the High Court, which shall inquire into and determine the truth of the person’s allegation. ‘

“It is for the reasons advanced above that I proceed to grant the application as follows:

“Leave is hereby granted to the Applicant to apply for judicial review for the issuance of an Order of Certiorari to remove the whole proceedings, orders, pending applications and the entire record of Hon. Anas Isah Mohammad in Grade 1 Area Court of the FCT, Holden in Karshi in charge number: CR/349/2019 and Motion No: M/19/2019 between African Peoples Party (APP) Vs. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (AKA Femi Gbaja) into this court for the purposes of being quashed by way of judicial review.

“It is further ordered by virtue of Section 12(1) of the Federal Capital Territory Area Court Act and Order 44 Rule 3(6)(a) that the leave so granted above shall operate as a stay of further action or proceedings by the respondents; particularly the proceedings in Grade 1 Area Court (Coram Hon. A.I Mohammed) the 2″‘1 Respondents in this application, in CR/349/2019 is hereby stayed

“It is ordered that the 2nd Respondent(the Area Court judge) either by himself or the registrar of the Lower Area Court is to transmit a certified record of proceedings of the lower court into this court or make same available to the applicant upon payment of the required fee within 7 days from the service of this order.”

The case was adjourned till June 20, 2019 for hearing of the motion.