Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a defection suit against 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly loyal to Minister Nyesom Wike......Read The Full Article>>.....Read The Full Article>>
The suit, initiated by the Action People’s Party (APP), sought to replace the lawmakers over their alleged defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
In his ruling on Friday, Justice Lifu stated that the suit was statute-barred, having been filed well beyond the 14-day window stipulated by law. While the alleged defection occurred in December of last year, the APP did not file the case until July 12, eight months later.
Justice Lifu also noted that the case constituted a gross abuse of the court process, as multiple suits concerning the same lawmakers’ alleged defection had already been adjudicated. He referenced prior judgments, including one by Justice James Omotosho, which restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from declaring the lawmakers’ seats vacant or conducting fresh elections.
Emphasizing that the previous judgment remains binding and has not been appealed, Justice Lifu remarked that revisiting the matter would be a waste of judicial resources, as he could not act as an appellate court over decisions made by the same bench.
