Defection: Court dismisses suit seeking Saraki, Dogara, other lawmakers’ sack

The Federal High Court, Abuja has just struck out the suit seeking the sack of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and 52 other lawmakers over defection from the party that sponsored them to the National Assembly.

An advocacy group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, (LEDAP) had, in a suit asked the court to sack Saraki, Dogara and 52 other lawmakers from the National Assembly over their election.

LEDAP, in the suit filed on September 14, 2018, also prayed the court for an interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution.

The trial Judge, Justice Okon Abang held in the judgment that the plaintiff has no legal right to file the action seeking the sack of the national lawmakers.

The court also declined the plaintiff’s request to refer the matter to the Court of Appeal for the interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999 Constitution, saying that the Supreme Court has provided enough materials that the court can use in arriving at a decision in the matter.

“This suit is hereby dismissed as the plaintiff has no locus standing to institute the action”, the Judge held.