A Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday dismissed a suit seeking to bar Senator Ireti Kingibe, the senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), from participating in African Democratic Congress (ADC) activities. The case challenged the party’s Wuse Ward Executive in Abuja, which had allegedly suspended Kingibe and then approached the court for validation of its action. The court struck out the application and also ordered that Kingibe be awarded N20 million.
According to reports, the judge, Justice Peter Lifu, ruled that the circumstances of the ward executives’ decision to seek judicial endorsement indicated a lack of confidence in their own action. The court also declined the reliefs sought by the plaintiffs to restrict Kingibe from engaging in all ADC activities.
While the parties’ underlying dispute concerns Kingibe’s alleged suspension by the Wuse Ward Executive, all outlets agree that the court action in Abuja resulted in the suit being dismissed and in the monetary award to Kingibe. The decision leaves the challenged suspension without the court endorsement sought by the plaintiffs.
