Minority Leader: Court Refuses To Restrain Saraki, Others

Justice Gabriel Kolawole of
the Federal High Court, Abuja, yesterday refused to restrain the Senate President Bukola Saraki and 17 others from bypassing the Senate’s standing rules in the appointment of the Minority Leader for the Eighth National Assembly.
Two members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Alaye Don Pedro (Ward 8 Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, Rivers State) and Okechukwu Ibeh of Umukegwu/Umuopia in Ide Ato Local Government Area, Imo State – had, in an ex-parte motion sought to restrain Saraki and 17 members of the PDP South South Senate Caucus from choosing the Minority Leader outside the provision of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).
The plaintiffs contended that the alleged plot by some individuals to make former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godwill Akpabio (a first term Senator) the Senate’s Minority Leader, was in violation of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended).
Named with Saraki as respondents are Akpabio, Nelson Effiong, Bassey Albert, Emmanuel Paulker, Ogola Foster, Ben Murray Bruce, John Owan Enoh, Gershom Bassey, Rose Oko, James Manager, Peter Nwaoboshi, Ighoyota Amori, Clifford Ordia, Matthew Urhoghide, George Thomson Sekibo, Olaka Nwogu and Osinachukwu Ideozu.
In his ruling, Justice Kolawole refused the plaintiffs’ prayer for “an order restraining the second to 18 respondents from selecting or appointing the Minority Leader by a procedure in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Order 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
The judge also refused their request for an “order prohibiting the first respondent from accepting, recognising, announcing or giving effect to the appointment of a Minority Leader of the Senate, whose appointment is in breach of Order 3(2) of the Senate Standing Orders 2015 (as amended) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”