A Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday summoned the House of Representatives to explain where it got its information that it stopped the investigation of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, for allegedly spending about N10billion on hiring aircraft.
The House of Representatives reportedly claimed on Monday that the court presided over by Justice Ahmed Mohammed had restrained it from proceeding with the planned investigation of Alison-Madueke and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) over the N10billion aircraft lease allegation.
Justice Mohammed expressed displeasure about the claim credited to the House of Representatives and said his court never granted any order stopping Alison-Madueke’s probe by the House of Representatives.
The judge said he was worried by the confusing reports in the media, which were clear misrepresentation of the proceedings in court, stressing that he got calls inquiring if he actually stopped the investigation.
The plaintiffs’ lawyer, Etigwe Uwa (SAN), said he was also surprised about the reports, saying he equally got calls and had to do a statement to some media houses to correct the wrong information.
Lawyer to the National Assembly (1st defendant) Yakubu Maikyau (SAN) said he knew something was wrong with the way the media report came out.
He said the suspicion that something was wrong was supported by the fact that the court’s ruling, on which the media reports were based, was delivered on April 14 but was only published to coincide with when the minister was expected to appear.
Maikyau, who apologised to the court on behalf of his client, said he believed if such an order was made, it would have been reported before now.
Justice Mohammed held that since the confusion emanated from the House of Representatives, he would adjourn the matter to enable the House which was not represented, to come and clear the air on the reports.
“I have seen the press release in the media said to be released by the House of Representatives that this court has ordered the stop of the investigation of the Minister for Petroleum Resources. As far as I am concerned, and I am the judge handling this matter, no such order was made.”
The judge gave details of what transpired in the case during the last two occasions when the case came up.
He said on April 14 when the matter first came up, the plaintiffs, lawyer moved an exparte application, seeking, among others an order of interim injunction restraining the House from proceeding with its investigation.
The judge said he did not grant the exparte application, but ordered the House to appear on April 17 and show cause why the orders being sought should not be granted.
He said on April 17, Uwa told the court that the defendants (National Assembly and House of Representatives) were only served the previous day a development that prompted the court to further adjourn till yesterday, and restated its order for the defendants to appear and show cause.
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