Court Declares Ali Ndume Suspension Illegal, Orders Full Payment Of Salaries, Allowances

0
543

By Nuel Suji – The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday, declared the suspension of Ali Ndume by the Senate as illegal, just as it ordered the payment of all his outstanding salaries and allowances.

Ndume, a former Senate Leader and senator representing Borno south was suspended for 90days by his colleagues in March after raising a point of order demanding an investigation into allegations impropriety leveled against Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Kogi senator Dino Melaye.

He had earlier incurred the wrath of the senate for voicing opinion contrary to the decision of senate on the Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu.

He had approached the court to challenge the legality of his suspension.

Justice Babatunde Quadri in his judgment, Friday, set aside the suspension and ordered that Mr. Ndume be allowed to resume his duties in the senate as a senator.

“The suspension of the plaintiff (Ndume) is hereby declared illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. The purported suspension contained in the letter of March 30 is hereby set aside.

“The first and second defendants (the senate president and the senate) are hereby directed to pay the plaintiff his outstanding salaries and allowances forthwith.”

The judge however, declined the plaintiff’s request for a damage of N500million.

“Relief on the issue of damages is hereby refused, because I hope this will facilitate reconciliation in the senate between the plaintiff and other members of the senate and bring peace to our nascent democracy.”

The Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, which investigated the matter recommended that Mr. Ndume be suspended for one year.

The report, which was presented by the committee’s chairman, Samuel Anyanwu, was considered by the lawmakers at plenary.

The senate then resolved to suspend Mr. Ndume for “bringing Mr. Melaye and the institution of the senate to unbearable disrepute.”

 

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here