Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has asked a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to imprison the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, for disobeying a previous order of the court.
Justice Ahmed Ramat Muhammed had, on November 7, issued an order compelling all parties in the suit on the withdrawal of Tambuwal’s security to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit.
On Friday, the Speaker, who was represented by Latif Fagbemi (SAN) filed an ex parte application before the court, argued that Abba should be charged for contempt, having “directed” his men to prevent the Speaker from gaining access to the premises of the National Assembly, firing teargas at the lawmakers.
Tambuwal also argued that by refusing to recognize him as Speaker of the House during an appearance before a House committee on Monday, Abba made himself the complainant, the judge and the executioner in a matter where a restraining order had already been issued by the Judge.
Justice Muhammed, while ruling on the ex parte application, ordered Tambuwal’s counsel to serve the motion on notice to the IGP’s lawyers for them to respond.
The Judge also adjourned sitting to December 1 for a ruling on whether other interested parties, notably the chairman of Tambuwal Local Government Area and a member representing Tambuwal West constituency in the Sokoto State House of Assembly, could be joined in the suit.
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