A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, today, nullified the suspension of Senator Ovie Omo-Agege by the Senate.
Giving the ruling, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba described the bases of Omo-Agege’s suspension as illegal, insisting that the violation of the constitution, for which the senator was suspended was not properly substantiated and, therefore, not weighty enough.
The senator, who represents Delta State Central senatorial district, was suspended for 90 legislative days for taking the Senate to court. Omo-Agege had gone to court, seeking to stop the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee from sitting on his matter, following his comments against the Senate over the bill to change the order of election for the 2019 elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Justice Dimgba ruled that access to the court was a fundamental right of every citizen, as enshrined in the constitution, and should neither be taken by force nor by intimidation.
He said that while the Senate was right to suspend the senator, it was meant to be for a time period of 14 days.
He described the punishment imposed on the senator as an affront on the judiciary since the senator’s suit was still pending.
The senator was suspended for filing a suit against the Senate after apologizing to the legislative house for allegations against him.
But the court ruled that natural justice was breached by the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee, as the complainant, Senator Dino Melaye, was part of the committee’s sitting and was part of those who signed while the issue was being considered.
The judge, therefore, ordered that the senator be paid all allowances and salaries for the time for which he was suspended, as he also ordered his suspension be nullified immediately.
The senator, who was suspended on the 13th of April had initially filed a suit against the Senate on March 26th, 2018.
Image Credit:independence.ng
