The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit seeking to bar Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in activities of the African Democratic Congress following her alleged suspension.
Justice Peter Lifu also awarded N20 million costs against the plaintiffs and in favour of the senator who represents the Federal Capital Territory.
The suit was brought by two members of the party, Okezuo Godfrey Anayo and Isaiah Ojonugwa Samuel, who said they acted on behalf of the ADC Ward Executive Committee in the FCT.
According to the plaintiffs, Senator Kingibe was suspended on March 10 by the Wuse Ward for offences that included insubordination. They told the court that her suspension was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee in a general meeting of the party.
“The suspension was duly communicated to the defendant and relevant party organs. Despite the said suspension, the defendant continues to parade herself as a card-carrying member of the ADC,” one of the plaintiffs stated in an affidavit.
They prayed the court to declare that the suspension was valid and subsisting, and to restrain the lawmaker from parading herself as a member of the party.
However, Justice Lifu dismissed the suit, holding that the case bordered on an intra-party dispute over which the court lacks the jurisdiction to entertain.
