Tambuwal withdraws suit against IGP

A federal high court in Abuja has struck out the suit by Aminu Tambuwal, speaker of the house of representatives, challenging the withdrawal of his security details by the inspector general of police (IGP) following his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Ahmed Mohammed, justice of the Abuja high court, struck out the suit on Monday after Tunji Abayomi, Tambuwal’s counsel, brought an application for discontinuance of the suit, explaining that he was instructed by the speaker to make the withdrawal.

Ade Okeaya-Inneh (SAN), counsel to the attorney-general of the federation and the IGP, 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.

But the judge ruled that the defence only responded to the preliminary motion for injunction to restrain the IGP from withdrawing Tambuwal’s security details and not the motion on notice. He made no order as to costs.

Tambuwal had prayed the court to restore his security details on the grounds that the IGP had no constitutional powers to effect the withdrawal of his security details without the order of a court.

Meanwhile, two members of Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency in Sokoto state, have filed an application for joinder in the suit by 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, Israel Ologundare (SAN), praying the court to admit them as interested parties in the suit, which sought to remove Tambuwal as speaker and begin the process to recall him to his constituency in Sokoto state.

Mohammed ordered the parties to file their responses to the application for joinder and another application for amendment of the processes by Tambuwal’s counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).

He adjourned the suit to November 28 for hearing.