Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, on Friday shunned the proceedings of the Federal High Court in Abuja, during a hearing in the suit filed by the Speaker, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, to stop any moves aimed at removing him from office.
The court had on November 3, ordered Ihedioha and other defendants in the suit to appear in court on Friday.
Justice Ahmed Mohammed asked the parties to appear on Friday to show cause why the court should not grant the prayer of the plaintiffs seeking an order of interim injunction to restrain the defendants from taking any step to remove Tambuwal from office.
Apart from Ihedioha, other defendants were represented by their lawyers in court in response to the court’s order to show cause.
But the judge confirmed that Ihedioha was absent from court despite having been served with all the court processes including a copy of the “order to show cause.”
The other defendants in the suit are the PDP, its National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu Mu’azu, the House of Representatives, Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Suleiman Abba; the Independent National Electoral Commission and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Adoke.
But Justice Mohammed at the Friday’s proceedings affirmed his earlier order directing parties to maintain status quo by refraining from taking any step capable of destroying the subject matter in the suit.
The judge however, declined to make any order restoring Tambuwal’s security details, who were withdrawn by police authorities and the Department of State Services, upon his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.
The court rather than restore Tambuwal’s security detatials, granted accelerated hearing in the suit in order to determine the case expeditiously.
Tambuwal, whose travails started upon his defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress, had in his suit filed on October 31, accused Ihedioha of being part of those plotting for his removal from office.
The Speaker, who was personally present in court on Friday, was accompanied by the National Deputy Chairman of the APC (South), Mr. Segun Oni, and the National Vice Chairman of the party (North-West) Mr. Inua Abdukadri.
Both Oni and Abdukadri were in court to represent the APC, which is the second plaintiff in the suit.
The court adjourned till November 17 for hearing the substantive suit along with the preliminary objections filed in the suit.
Source: Punchng
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