The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled May 18 to deliver a judgment on the case challenging the indefinite suspension of Senator Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
During the hearing on Wednesday, Kingibe’s lawyer, Mr. Marshall Abubakar, argued that the case lacked merit, as it concerned internal party matters. He contended that the court should dismiss the suit with a punitive cost.
Abubakar emphasized that the ADC had a clear procedure for addressing disciplinary actions, which was not followed in Kingibe’s case. He stated that the senator was never invited to any hearing or presented with any formal complaint. Additionally, he argued that the plaintiffs lacked standing to file the suit because they themselves had been suspended from the party. Furthermore, only the ADC’s National Working Committee (NWC), not individual members, had the authority to suspend a member.
Abubakar requested the court to dismiss the case in its entirety and impose a N25 million punitive cost on the plaintiffs.
On the other hand, the plaintiffs’ lawyer, Mr. I.G. Ogugua, asked the court to disregard Abubakar’s arguments. He argued that the breach of a political party’s constitution could not be shielded under the guise of internal party affairs.
Previously, Abubakar had filed an application challenging the court’s jurisdiction to hear the matter, claiming it was purely an internal party issue. Ogugua, however, opposed this, asserting that the court had the authority to rule on the matter.
After hearing the arguments from both sides, Justice Peter Lifu fixed May 18 for the judgment.
The suit seeks to affirm Kingibe’s suspension by the Wuse Ward chapter of the ADC, which cited alleged anti-party activities and violations of the party’s constitution as the reasons for the suspension. Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, has been suspended indefinitely by the ADC Wuse Ward.
