Posted by By GODWIN TSA Abuja on
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the House of Representatives to stay action on its resolution to ban the Minister in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the House of Representatives to stay action on its resolution to ban the Minister in-charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, from holding public office pending the determination of the suit he filed against the legislative assembly.
Justice Anwule Chikere issued the order Wednesday, while ruling on an exparte application seeking for judicial review brought by El-Rufai, pursuant to order 47 (10) (a) of the Federal High Court and the inherent jurisdiction of the court preserved by section 6 (6) of the 1999 constitution.
In the suit, El-Rufai is asking the court for a declaration that the House of Representatives acted ultra vires of its powers as provided under the 1999 constitution, in setting up an investigation committee into the alleged irregularities in the NITEL/M-TEL/PENTASCOPE International B.V Private LTD Management Contract.
A declaration that the lower house acted beyond its powers under the constitution in imposing penal sanctions on him, to wit:
"The act of subterfuge and executive rascality perpetrated by the former Director of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mallam Nasir El Rufai in positioning Pentascope to squander over one hundred billion naira of tax payer's money should not be left unpunished. The committee recommends that he should be banned henceforth from holding any public office and made to face the relevant laws."
In the suit filed by his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome, Rufai is also praying the court to quash the entire proceedings and consequent resolution of the House of Representatives leading to and based upon the report of the committee.
The court also ordered that Rufai should serve the court process on the House of Representatives within seven days.