Court orders National Assembly to stop probe of petroleum minister

An Abuja Federal High Court on Thursday restrained the National Assembly from proceeding with its proposed probe of the minister of petroleum resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives had summoned the minister to appear before its committee investigating her alleged spending of N10 billion on chartered aircraft.

The minister and the NNPC, first and second plaintiffs, however, filed a suit seeking to stop the lawmakers from embarking on the probe.
The plaintiffs had joined the Senate and the House of Representatives as co-defendants.

Justice Ahmed Mohammed, in his ruling, ordered parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the substantive suit.
He said that the committee had no genuine reason to go ahead with the proposed probe, being aware of the pending suit seeking order to restrain it from doing the investigation.

The judge said that the filing of the suit did not amount to usurping the legislative powers of the National Assembly as claimed by the committee.

“Section 6 (1), 6(6) (b) of the constitution gives the court inherent powers of interpretation and determination of disputes between government and individuals and within arms of government.

“I hereby direct parties to maintain the status quo in this matter until the next adjourned date,” the judge ordered.

It would be recalled that the House Committee on Public Accounts had planned to carry out the probe on June 25, 26 and 27.

Etigwe Uwa (SAN), counsel to the plaintiffs, had earlier informed the court of his application, praying the court to grant a preservative order pending the hearing of the suit.