Former Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has appealed the ruling of a Lagos High court which struck out the action seeking to stop the state House of Assembly from probing him over the procurement of 820 buses meant for public transportation in the state.
The Lawmakers have suspended the probe moment Ambode secured an order of court which directed parties to the suit to maintain status quo.
However, in a ruling to the interlocutory action filed by the governor yesterday, Justice Yetunde Adesanya who presided over the matter struck out the suit by the former Governor on the ground that it was prematured and not justifiable.
The Judge said the Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate Ambode is a fact finding committee, noting that an investigation is not an indictment.
However in the notice of appeal filed by his counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, before the Lagos division of the appeal court, Ambode was praying the court to set aside the decision of the trial court and allow the appeal.
Beside, the former governor prayer the appellate court to remit the matter back to the high court to allow the chief judge to reassign it to another judge of the Hugh court for trial.
Respondents in the appeal are the State House of Assembly, its Speaker Mr Mudashiru Obasa and the House Clerk, Mr A.A Sanni. Others are Mr Fatai Mojeed, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee set up by the House to probe the procurement of the buses and eight members of the Committee.
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On the four grounds of appeal, Ambode argued that the trial court erred in law when it held that the suit he filed was not matured. According to him, any person who assumes that his right is being infringed upon or likely to be infringed has the right to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to seek legal protection, which the court has a duty to entertain.
He argued further that the court below erred in law when it held that Section 36 (1) of the 1999 constitution does not apply to the exercise of the powers of the defendants under Section 128 of the constitution.
He argued that Section 128 (1) of the constitution provides that the exercise of the powers of the House of Assembly is subject to the provisions of the 1999 constitution.
He submitted that the trial court erred in law when it held that the Claimant action does not disclose a reasonable cause of action. According to him, his action is a declarative action, which pleaded the facts of the allegations against him, which were not denied by the defendants.
He finally submitted that the trial judge erred in law when it held that the defendant’s objection was properly taken without the defendants filing a statement of defence.
Meanwhile, the notice of appeal filed immediately after the ruling was yet to be given a date.
