Court to hear budget padding suit June 12
The Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday fixed June 12, to hear an application for joinder in an appeal filed by the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Ethics, Mr. Nicholas Ossai and Oker Yisa, against the ruling of Justice John Tsoho of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.The two lawmakers had approached the court to upturn the High Court ruling which turned down their request to join in the suit filed by the former Chairman of the House Committee on Appropriation, Abdulmumuni Jubrin, challenging his suspension from the House. At the last adjourned date, appellants’ counsel, Akeem Kareem, asked the court for a date to enable him to effect service on the respondent in the appeal.However, counsel to Jibrin, Femi Falana (SAN), expressed displeasure over the appellants’ approach, which he said was targeted at disrupting and stalling the entire suit.
Falana in his submissions told the court that they were ready to adopt their written addresses so that they could return to the Federal High Court since the case was time bound and the suspension they are challenging would elapse on June 28. After taking submissions from counsel in the suit, the court adjourned the suit to June 12 to enable the parties to effect service of court processes.
