Jibrin denies withdrawing suitagainst Dogara, others

By Emman Ovuakporie and Johnbosco AgbakwuruAPPARENTLY disturbed by the story that he has withdrawn his suit against theSpeaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, ousted former Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, AbdulmuninJibrin yesterday denied it, declaring that it was a calculated misrepresentation of facts.In a statement issued on his behalf by his counsel, Chukwuma Nwachukwu, he said that the true position of the matter was deliberately altered.The statement stated that:”It has come to our attention the circulating misrepresentation of facts that our client, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin has withdrawn his suit filed vide FHC/ABJ/CS/595/16 against the Speaker, House of Representatives and 14 others wherein we sought for injunctive reliefs restraining the the Defendants from suspending the Plaintiff, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin.“This is not the true position of things and the said untrue information is calculated to misinform and in fact disappoint the teeming generality of Nigerians who seek for justice to be done in this matter.“As you all are aware, despite the pendency of the above suit and the Defendants representation in same, they went ahead and suspended Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin with the aim of foisting a state of helplessness on the court. Weshall resist this callous misbehaviour by men who areconstitutionally saddled with law making responsibilities..“For the avoidance of doubt, we have also filed a fresh suitby way of an Originating summons in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/ 812/16 in Hon Abdulmumin Jibrin vs. The Speaker, House of Representatives & 2 ORS which is currently pending before Justice John Tsoho of the Federal High Court 3 Abuja.In his suit, Jibrin is praying the court for:* A declaration that the suspension of the Plaintiff from the floor of the House ofRepresentatives for 180 legislative days commencing from the 28th day of September 2016 is a violationof the Plaintiff’s fundamental right to freedom of expression guaranteed by Section 39 of the Constitutionof the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (cap. A9) Laws of the Federation ofNigeria 2004.* A declaration that the resolution passed by the Defendants on the floor of the2nd Defendant on the 28th day of September 2016 suspending the Plaintiff from the floor of the 2nd Defendant for 180 legislative days is in breach of the provisions of Section 68 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic (as amended) and Section 21 and 24 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act 2004 and Order 10 rule 6 of the Standing Orders of the Houseof Representatives.* A declaration that by virtue of the provisions of Chapter VII, paragraph 7.5 of the “Code of Conduct for Honourable Members”, the Plaintiff or any member of the2nd Defendant has a duty to expose corrupt practices in the 2nd Defendant.*An order of Court setting aside the purported suspension of the Plaintiff from the House of Representatives for 180 legislative days forthwith.*An order of injunction restraining the Defendants from preventing the Plaintiff from participating in the Committees of the 2nd Defendant or accessing his legislative chambers or compelling the Plaintiff to tender an apology to the Defendants or any member ofthe 2nd Defendant before he is allowed into the Chambers of the 2nd Defendant to perform his legislative duties.*An order directing the Defendants to pay the Plaintiff his outstanding salaries, accrued allowances and all other entitlements dueto him from the date of his suspension from the floor of the House of Representativesuntil the judgment of this Honourable Court is executed.*The sum of N1, 000,000, 000.00 (One Billion Naira) being general damages for the suspension of the Plaintifffor 180 legislative days from the floor of the 2nd Defendant.Be informed that the Honourable Court has slated the above suit for hearing on the 22nd day of November 2016. Our client’s resolve in this matter cannot be broken”.