Why Saraki, NASS Clerk May Be Jailed

A Federal High Court in Abuja, has threatened to arrest Senate President Bukola Saraki and Clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori if they fail to obey its order of June 13, 2018.

The court had ordered Saraki and Sani-Omolori to swear-in Air vice Marshal Isaac Mohammed Alfa (rtd) as the Senator representing Kogi east, just as it ordered Senator Attai Aidoko (PDP, Kogi east) to vacate the seat because he was not validly elected.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole in addition ordered Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to re-issue certificate of return in favour of Alfa.

Despite the validation of the Federal High Court judgement by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, Aidoko had through his lawyer, Patrick Ikwueto (SAN) on January 28, 2019, filed another suit before the same Federal High Court, asking it to set aside its order of June 13, 2018.

The Federal High Court on February 21, 2019, struck out the suit on the grounds that its order of June 13, 2018, is still valid and subsisting.

But Alfa’s lawyer, Reuben Egwuaba, applied for ‘’Form 48’’ which is a ’’notice of consequences of disobedience to order of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court’’.

However, the Court on Thursday granted Alfa’s application to warn Saraki and Sani-Omolori against further delay to inaugurate him As Senator.

Justice Inyang Ekwo held that Saraki and Sani-Omolori should, ‘’take notice that unless you obey the order contained in this order you will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison’’.