There is confusion in the Senate over the filing of suits at the Supreme Court, following the suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen, by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The
crisis reared its head, yesterday, as All Progressives Congress, APC,
caucus in the Senate filed a suit at the Supreme Court, challenging the
suit earlier filed by the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, who
withdrew it as a result of the intervention of National Judicial
Council, NJC, in the matter.
It would be recalled that the Senate
had, through its president, Saraki, approached the Supreme Court last
Monday to seek interpretation of the suspension of Justice Walter
Onnoghen by President Buhari.
But in a dramatic twist,
yesterday, the Senate ordered the discontinuation of the case it filed
at the Supreme Court over the suspension of the Chief Justice of
Nigeria, CJN, Justice Walter Onnoghen by President Muhammadu Buhari and
his replacement with Justice Ibrahim Mohammed.
A statement
signed by Special Adviser, Media to the Senate President, Yusuph
Olaniyonu, read: “The Senate has, therefore, decided to discontinue the
case it filed in the Supreme Court. It should be noted that the case
has been slated for hearing tomorrow. This decision also affirm the
confidence of the Senate in the ability of the NJC to successfully and
creditably resolve the issues.”
APC senators go to S-Court to challenge suit
Meanwhile,
the Senate APC Caucus has differed from the position of the Senate
President, as senators of the ruling party have gone to the Supreme
Court to challenge Saraki on the matter.
The decision to go to
court, according to the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan (APC, Yobe
North), was arrived at the end of the meeting of the senators,
yesterday.
According to the Senate leader, the APC, which has 56
members, is challenging the said suit and has vehemently objected to the
inclusion of its members.
A statement by Senator Ahmad Lawan
read: “The Senate caucus of All Progressives Congress, APC, consisting
of 56 senators, being the majority party in the Senate, has today
(yesterday), Monday, February 4, applied to the Supreme Court to join in
the suit purportedly filed by the Senate against the President and
Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria as interested parties.
“The APC senators rely on the
Supreme Court (Additional Original Jurisdiction) Act of 2002, which
provides that the resolution of the respective Chamber of the National
Assembly is a prerequisite of filing such suit.
“The caucus is, therefore, challenging the said suit and objects to the inclusion of its members.”
Source:- Vanguardngr
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