Ambode Appeals High Court Ruling Striking Out Suit To Stop Probe

Former Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has appealed the ruling of a Lagos High court which struck out a suit seeking to stop the State House of Assembly from probing him over the procurement of 820 buses meant to revolutionize public transportation in the State.

The Lawmakers suspended the probe after Ambode secured a court order which directed parties to the suit to maintain the status quo.

However, in a ruling to the interlocutory action filed by the governor on Thursday, Justice Yetunde Adesanya who presided over the matter struck out the suit by the former Governor on the ground that it was premature and not justiceable.

The Judge said the Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate Ambode is a fact-finding committee, noting that an investigation is not an indictment.

But in the notice of appeal filed by his counsel, Mr. Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, before the Lagos division of the appeal court, Ambode prayed the court to set aside the decision of the trial court and allow the appeal.

Besides, the former governor prayed the appellate court to remit the matter back to the high court to allow the chief judge to reassign it to another judge of the High court for trial.

Respondents in the appeal are the State House of Assembly, are Speaker Mr.  Mudashiru Obasa and the House Clerk, Mr. A.A Sanni. Others are Mr. Fatai Mojeed, the Chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee set up by the House to probe the procurement of the buses and eight members of the Committee.

On the four grounds of appeal, Ambode argued that the trial court erred in law when it held that the suit he filed was not mature. According to him, any person who assumes that his right is being infringed upon or likely to be infringed has the right to invoke the jurisdiction of the court to seek legal protection, which the court has a duty to entertain.

He finally submitted that the trial judge erred in law when it held that the defendant’s objection was properly taken without the defendants filing a statement of defence.