Court strikes out suit against Kingibe, fines plaintiffs, lawyer N10 million each

The Federal High Court, Abuja Division, on Friday, struck out a suit seeking to uphold the indefinite suspension of Ireti Kingibe by the Wuse Ward chapter of the African Democratic Congress.

Delivering judgement, Justice Peter Lifu, held that issues relating to discipline and suspension within a political party remain the internal affairs of the party and do not require judicial intervention.

The judge questioned why the same party officials who suspended the senator approached the court to validate their own action. The judge held that the suspended senator ought to have been the one challenging the disciplinary action if she felt aggrieved.

He said the plaintiffs’ decision to seek judicial endorsement of their action suggested a lack of confidence in their own action.

The judge subsequently described the suit as frivolous, baseless and unfounded. Invoking sections 82 and 83 of the Electoral Act, the judge awarded N10 million in costs against the plaintiffs in favour of Ms Kingibe.

He also imposed an additional N10 million fine on the plaintiffs’ counsel for filing what he described as a frivolous suit, with the sum equally payable to the senator.

(NAN)