A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Friday, declined to stop the House of Representatives from commencing impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan over the alleged nonimplementation of the 2012 budget.

The presiding judge,Justice Gabriel Kolawole, held that the court must be very certain that the impeachment proceedings was on course before it could entertain the suit in order not to interfere with the responsibilities of the legislative arm of government.

He further held that section 143 (1) of the 1999 constitution required a joint impeachment resolution of both arms of the National Assembly before the president could be removed.

Justice Kolawole also held that by not joining the Senate, as a party to the suit, the motion ex-parte could not succeed.

He futher held that “this may not be the proper occasion for this court to grant ex parte order against the 2nd and 3rd defendants, as the reliefs sought by the plaintiff largely benefits the president.

He, accordingly, refused the ex parte order and adjourned the matter sine dine for the Registrar of the Chief Judge  to reassign the case.

Kolawole futher held: “this may not be the proper occasion for this court to grant ex parte order against the 2nd and 3rd defendants, as the reliefs sought by the plaintiff largely benefits the president.

Comments (0)

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Add Comment