The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the suspension of the Delta Central Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, “with immediate effect”.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the Senate had on April 13 suspended the senator for 90 legislative days over his comment that the amendment to the Electoral Act 2010 seeking the re-ordering of the general elections was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, in a judgment on Thursday, held that while the National Assembly had the power to discipline Omo-Agage or any of its erring members.
The judge also added that the Senate’s decision to punish Mr Omo-Agege for filing a suit against the Senate and for punishing him while his suit was pending constituted an affront on the judiciary.
He added that even if the Senate had rightly suspended the senator, it could only have suspended him for only a period of 14 days as prescribed in the Senate rules.
He also ruled that the principle of natural justice was breached by the Senate’s Ethics and Privileges Committee by allowing Senator Dino Melaye who was the complainant to participate in the committee’s sitting that consider the issue and also allowed to sign the committee’s report.
