Jibrin
Attempt by embattled former Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumin Jibrin to get judicial protection against alleged plots by the House leadership to punish him for his budget-padding whistle-blowing was thwarted by Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja.
Abang declined to entertain two separate suits filed by Jibrin on technical grounds. Jibrin had approached the court to protect him from being suspended by the house on resumption due to the role he played in the budget-padding allegation. In suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2016, against the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara, his Deputy, Yusuf Lasun and other principal officers of the lower chamber, he had sought an order to stop their alleged plan.
And in a second suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/595/2016, Jibrin also sought to stop the respondents from violating his rights in the course of investigation of the alleged budget padding.
Those sued are:Inspector-General of Police, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, Dogara, and other principal officers of the House as well as the Attorney-General of the Federation.
However, Justice Abang, declined to hear them, because, in his view, the lawmaker failed to obtain leave of court to have his cases heard since the judiciary is on recess.
Abang said, “A matter filed during court vacation is not heard as a matter of cause (right).
“The applicant is expected to apply and obtain the leave of court to have his matter herd during the court vacation in line with the provisions of Order 46 Rule 5 of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules 2009. I so hold.
“This applicant did not do so. I do not have jurisdiction to even grant an adjournment of this suit.
“It is expected that the applicant will do the needful to comply with the provisions of the rules of this court.”
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