ADC crisis: Court postpones lawsuit against Ireti Kingibe until June 9

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday adjourned a lawsuit aimed at stopping Senator Ireti Kingibe from parading herself as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) until June 9 for hearing.

The judge set the date following an application for adjournment by the plaintiff’s attorney, IG Ogugwa.

Ogugwa, who said the case was not an immediate pre-election case when the hearing was held, prayed the court for more time.

Judge Lifu on April 2 refused to grant a request to prevent Senator Kingibe from parading himself as a member of the ADC.

The judge, in his ruling, instead ordered the plaintiff to submit a notice to Kingibe, who currently represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, to show cause why the relief sought was not granted.

He then adjourned the matter to April 20 to hear all pending applications, including preliminary objections raised by the lawmaker’s legal advisor, Marshall Abubakar.

Two executive members of the ADC in Wuse Ward, Abuja have sued Kingibe as sole defendant.

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The plaintiffs – Mr Okezuo Kanayo, the Chairman of the ADC, Wuse Ward, and his Secretary, Mr Isaiah Sameul, in an ex-parte motion filed through their lawyer, Kolawole Olowookere (SAN), seek an order of interim injunction barring Kingibe from performing any function or participating in any activity reserved for members of the ADC in any capacity, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

In their seven grounds of argument, their lawyers submitted that Kingibe, despite serving as a senator, was first a member of the ADC and was bound by the party’s constitution.

He said following proven allegations of anti-party activities, gross misconduct, and physical confiscation of the district’s legal records, the Wuse District Executive Committee, on March 10 suspended the lawmaker.

According to Olowookere, the suspension followed the process as stated in the ADC Constitution and was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the executive committee.

The lawyer said Kingibe continued to hold parallel meetings and issue press statements as a member of the ADC.

He alleged that lawmakers also used their security personnel to intimidate environmental executives, thereby creating a state of anarchy.