Reps Crisis: Court Lacks Power To Hear Suspension Suit – Bankole

ABUJA, July 09, (THEWILL) - Dimeji Bankole, Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, has today challenged the jurisdiction of a Federal High Court in Abuja to consider the suit seeking to invalidate the suspension placed on Honourable Dino Melaye and six others for disruptive conduct.

Counsel to Dimeji Bankole, Sikiru Oke at the resumed hearing of the suit filed before Justice Ibrahim Auta, asked the court to give him time to react to the originating summons filed by Mr. Femi Falana, counsel to Honourable Melaye and the six other suspended members of the house.

Both Counsels to the House of Representatives and the Clerk of the House also asked for time to enable them respond appropriately to the processes filed.

Before adjourning the suit to July 19, 2010 for hearing, Justice Ibrahim Auta stated that both the originating summons and the preliminary objections will be heard on the next date, as according to him, the suspension of the seven members of the House has closed up a segment of the country from being represented in the Lower Chambers of the Legislature.