Senator Ali Ndume (APC-Borno South) has stated that he has been vindicated by the Federal High Court declaration that his suspension by the Senate as illegal and unconstitutional.
Justice Babatunde Quadri held on Friday that the suspension of Ndume for 90 legislative days is a violation of his right to fair hearing and freedom of expression as guaranteed by sections 36 and 39 of the extant Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999.
The lawmaker said he never committed any offence that should have warranted his suspension by the senate.
He noted that the Senate was wrong because it lacked the right to suspend a member more than two weeks.
Ndume disclosed that he had received a letter from the Clerk to the Senate, Nelson Ayewoh, stating that his suspension would be over on Tuesday 14th November, 2017.
He said that he would resume plenary on Wednesday, November 15, 2017.
Ndume said: ”I am just from court and I thank God that the court has declared my suspension unconstitutional, illegal and null and void, and that was what I approached the court for declaratory judgment and I got that judgment today.
”So, that nullifies my suspension which hitherto or ab initio I said it was illegal, because first of all, there was no cause for me to be suspended because I didn’t do anything that would have warranted my suspension in the first place.
”And secondly also, the Senate doesn’t have the right to suspend a member more than two weeks. That is what our rules say. So, where they got the power to suspend me for six months was what I approached the court to seek declaration and the court has so declared that it was not right and it was illegal.
”Even though I have already spent out my illegal suspension time, I did that not because of my person but because of the institution so that individuals cannot just because they are elected one among equal to lead the institution, to take advantage or abuse the process and I thank God for that.”
