By Ankeli Emmanuel, Kunle Olasanmi, Olaolu Oladipo And Bayo Oladeji
The speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and his new party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday dragged the federal government and six others before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, over the attempt to declare his seat vacant and the withdrawal of his security aides.
In a separate suit filed by the speaker through his lawyer, Dr Tunji Abayomi, he asked the court for a temporary order compelling the inspector-general of police to restore his security detail, pending the hearing and determination of the case.
Tambuwal, in the other suit filed at the registry of the court through Jubrin Okutepa (SAN), wants the court to declare that the attempt to declare his seat as a member and honourable speaker of the House of Representatives vacant, is unlawful and unconstitutional.
Cited as defendants in the suit are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its national chairman, Adamu Mu'azu, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, inspector-general of police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the attorney-general of the federation (AGF).
He further wants the court to declare that he remains a member and the speaker of the House of Representatives until the expiration of his current term of office on the June 5 2015.
Tambuwal also wants the court to declare that the withdrawal of his security detail when he has not been removed from office as speaker and member of the House of Representatives is illegal and unconstitutional.
He however prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from taking any steps to interfere with or infringe on his rights and privileges as the speaker of the House of Representatives and as a member of the House before the expiration of his term.
He also wants the court to give an order of perpetual injunction restraining INEC from accepting any nomination of candidates or organising a by-election for the purpose of replacing him.
Also, Tambuwal wants an order of mandatory injunction compelling the IGP and the AGF to restore his security detail and all other rights, benefits and privileges appurtenant to members of the House and the office of the honourable speaker.
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Nigeria: Withdrawal of Security Detail - Tambuwal Takes Battle to Court