You Cannot Declare Akpabio Seat Vacant, Court Tells Saraki

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki has been ordered by an Abuja High Court not to declare the seat of former Minority Leader of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio vacant Daily Trust reports.

The Presiding judge, Justice Othman Musa also ordered Saraki not impede Senator Akpabio’s access to the Senate building or taking any action aimed at “overreaching his privileges and rights as a Senator pending the determination of the originating Summons of the applicant.”

Justice Musa ordered service of the court papers on Saraki through the Clerk of the National Assembly, Clerk of the Senate or any other Clerk or reasonable staff of the National Assembly at the assembly complex.

The orders were made after an ex parte application by Akpabio’s lawyers, Chikaosolu Ojukwu and Ebere Ahanonu seeking to stop moves to declare his seat vacant following his defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The suit has been adjourned to August 29 for further hearing.