By WANDOO SOMBO

The Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday, fixed May 18 to deliver judgment in the suit seeking to uphold the indefinite suspension of Sen. Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

At the resumed hearing of the matter, Counsel to Kingibe, Mr Marshall Abubakar told the court that the case had no merit as it was purely an internal affair of the party.

According to Abubakar, the case ought to be dismissed with punitive cost.

He said that the party had a procedure for addressing cases such as the one before the court but that that procedure was not followed by the plaintiffs.

“The defendant was never invited for anything nor was there any complaint against her,” he said.

He added that the plaintiffs had no locus to institute the suit as they were themselves suspended by the party and moreover, it was only the National Working Committee, (NWC) of the party that could suspend a member and not other members.

The lawyer prayed the court to dismiss the matter in its entirety and award a N25 million punitive cost against the plaintiffs.

In his arguments, Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr I.G Ogugua prayed the court to dismiss the arguments of the defendant.

According to Ogugua, there is nothing sacrosant about the internal affairs of a political party where the constitution is breached.

Earlier, Abubakar had argued an application challenging the jurisdiction of the court to hear the matter.

He premised his argument on the grounds that the matter at hand was an internal affair of the party.

Ogugua, however, countered the argument and prayed the court to dismiss it for being unmeritorius as the court had requisite jurisdiction to hear and determine the matter.

The judge, Justice Peter Lifu, having listened to all the arguments, fixed May 18 to deliver judgment.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the suit is seeking an order of the court to uphold Kingibe’s suspension by the Wuse Ward chapter of the ADC.

NAN also reports that Kingibe, who represents the Federal Capital Territory in the Senate, was suspended indefinitely by the ADC Wuse Ward chapter.

The ward cited alleged anti-party activities and violations of the party’s constitution as grounds for the suspension. (NAN)

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