GOVERNOR Jonah Jang of Plateau State has begged an Abuja High Court to dismiss a suit filed by Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, seeking to stop him from parading himself as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF). Fashola, in the suit filed by Femi Falana (SAN), asked the court to stop Jang from parading himself as the chairman.
He said in the suit that the NGF election, which held on May 24, 2013 produced Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as Chairman.
Also joined in the suit are Asishana Bayo Okauru, Osaru Onaiwu and The Registered Trustees, Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
But in a preliminary objection filed last Friday by Tayo Oyetibo (SAN) on behalf of Jang, he told the court that Fashola lacks the locus standi (legal right) to institute the action and prayed the court to dismiss or strike it out.
Specifically, in the said preliminary objection, Oyetibo prayed the court to terminate Fashola’s suit at the interlocutory stage on the following grounds:
*The Writ of Summons was not issued in accordance with procedural due process.
*The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory lacks jurisdiction to entertain the Plaintiff’s claims.
*Even if the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has jurisdiction to entertain the Plaintiff’s claims, the Plaintiff lacks the legal right to bring the suit.
Oyetibo also argues that Amaechi, whom Fashola claimed won the election, has neither complained to the court that his mandate has been usurped or named or joined as party to the suit.
