N10bn jet: Court stops Diezani’s probe
A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the House of Representatives against the probe of the Minister of Petroleum Diezani Allison-Madueke over alleged charter of private jet. Justice Ahmed Mohammed also ordered the House of Representatives to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit by the minister before the court. Counsel to […]
A Federal High Court in Abuja has restrained the House of Representatives against the probe of the Minister of Petroleum Diezani Allison-Madueke over alleged charter of private jet.Justice Ahmed Mohammed also ordered the House of Representatives to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit by the minister before the court.
Counsel to the minister, Etigwe Uwa (SAN) had in April filed the motion for an injunction to restrain the Representatives after the Committee on Public Accounts in March summoned the minister over allegations of chartering private jets to the tune of N10 billion.
Despite the pendency of the suit, the House had further served an invitation on May 15. The House had claimed that under section 4 of the 1999 Constitution, its powers to make laws for the good governance of the country cannot be usurped by any arm of government.
But Justice Mohammed ruled that the constitution grants the House “inherent powers to decide disputes” within the country.
Earlier, counsel to the House of Representatives Abdul Mahmud (SAN) had prayed the court to be mindful of issuing any order restraining the National Assembly from exercising its constitutional responsibilities.
But Uwa urged the court to restrain the House from continuing with the probe since parties have submitted to the court.
The case has been adjourned to July 12 for hearing.