Court orders Senate to reinstate Ndume, pay his salaries in full

An Abuja Federal High Court, on Friday, ordered the reinstatement of suspended Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume.

The trial judge, Babatunde Quadri also ordered the Senate to ensure prompt payment of Ndume’s salaries and allowances.

Quadri described Ndume’s suspension as an exhibition of lawlessness on the part of the lawmakers.

In his ruling, Quadri held, “The suspension of the plaintiff is hereby declared illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional.

“The purported suspension contained in the letter of 30th March 2017 is hereby set aside.

“The 1st and 2nd defendants are hereby directed to pay the plaintiff his outstanding salaries and allowances forthwith.

“The suspension of Ndume for 90 legislative days (6 months) from the service of the senate as a senator in the senate with effect from 29th March 2017 as contained in the letter of 30th March 2017, is illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional as it was done in violation of Sections 68 and 69 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Article 13(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act CAP A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”

The Senate had in March, suspended Ndume for six months for allegedly embarrassing the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and lawmaker representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye.

Ndume’s fallout with the Senate began when he urged the Upper legislative chambers to investigate the allegation that the red chamber was planning vengeance on the Comptroller-General of Customs, Hameed Ali because a bullet-proof car allegedly belonging to Saraki was seized by customs.

He also asked that Melaye is probed for certificate forgery.

Both Saraki and Melaye, where, however, cleared of any wrongdoing by the Senate’s committee on ethics and privileges.

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