KOGI ASSEMBLY CRISIS: COURT HEARS IMPEACHED SPEAKER’S SUIT MONDAY

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed Monday to hear the suit challenging the purported impeachment of the Kogi State House of Assembly Speaker, Mr. Momoh Lawal. Justice Nnamdi Dimgba okayed hearing on the matter after he granted leave for substituted service of the relevant court processes on the five lawmakers that perfected the impeachment plot.

The five lawmakers, Umar Imam, Friday Sani, Lawi Ahmed, Bello Abdullahi and John Abah, were cited as the first to fifth defendants in the suit, which was filed by the embattled Speaker and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Other defendants in the matter are the Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police, Director General of DSS and Commandant of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps. Justice Dimgba gave the plaintiffs the nod to serve the defendants through substituted means, to wit, through newspaper publications.

The court permitted substituted service of the processes on the defendants after it declined prayer by counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr. Emeka Etiaba (SAN), to effect the service through courier. More so, Justice Dimgba abridged the time for appearance and filing of defence by the defendants to seven days. While moving two ex-parte motions, Etiaba told the court that the five lawmakers had been evading service.

It will be recalled that Lawal was purportedly impeached on February 16 along with other principal members of Kogi State House Assembly by the five lawmakers under alleged protection of law enforcement agents. It was alleged that the five lawmakers had since carried on with the business of the House. The National Assembly had declared that it would assume control over the Kogi State Assembly.