The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday adjourned a suit seeking to restrain Senator Ireti Kingibe from parading herself as a member of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) until June 9 for hearing.
The adjournment was granted by Justice Peter Lifu following an application by counsel to the plaintiffs, I. G. Ogugwa, who requested more time.
Ogugwa informed the court that the matter was not a pre-election case and urged the judge to fix a later date for hearing.
Justice Lifu had earlier, on April 2, declined an application seeking an interim order to restrain Kingibe from presenting herself as a member of the ADC.
Instead, the court directed the plaintiffs to serve the senator, who represents the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in the Senate, with a notice to show cause why the reliefs sought should not be granted.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to April 20 for hearing of all pending applications, including a preliminary objection filed by Kingibe’s counsel, Marshall Abubakar.
The suit was instituted by two executive members of the ADC in Wuse Ward, Abuja — Mr. Okezuo Kanayo, Chairman, and Mr. Isaiah Samuel, Secretary — with Kingibe listed as the sole defendant.
The plaintiffs filed an ex-parte motion dated March 17 through their counsel, Kolawole Olowookere, SAN, seeking an interim injunction to restrain the senator from performing any functions or participating in activities reserved for ADC members pending the determination of the substantive suit.
In their submissions, the plaintiffs argued that although Kingibe is a serving senator, she remains a member of the ADC and is bound by the party’s constitution.
They alleged that she was suspended by the Wuse Ward Executive Committee on March 10 over claims of anti-party activities, gross misconduct, and the alleged confiscation of the ward’s statutory records.
According to the plaintiffs, the suspension followed due process as stipulated in the ADC constitution and was ratified by a two-thirds majority of the executive committee.
The plaintiffs further alleged that Kingibe continued to hold parallel meetings and issue press statements as an ADC member despite her suspension, and also accused her of using her security aides to intimidate ward executives, thereby creating tension within the party structure.
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