Assembly probe: Investigation not indictment, court tells Ambode

An Ikeja High Court on Thursday struck out a suit filed by former Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, seeking to stop the state Assembly from probing him over alleged purchase of 820 buses for Bus Reform Project.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya ruled that the ad-hoc committee set up to investigate Ambode was a fact-finding committee, noting that an investigation is not an indictment.

“The claimant (Ambode) has not been indicted. An invitation by an agency of government cannot in anyway cause a breach of the threat of the fundamental rights of the claimant.

“I hereby find that the claimant’s action is an invitation to the court to cripple the legislative exercise of the statutory power of the Lagos State House of Assembly under Section 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution.

“That is not the function of the court, and no court of law should accede such invitation. The claimant’s suit is hereby struck out,” she ruled.

It would be recalled that Ambode had instituted the civil suit against the State House of Assembly, its Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, and the House Clerk, Mr A.A. Sanni.

Other respondents were 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.

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