Court Declares Ndume’s Suspension Illegal, Unlawful

A Federal High Court Sitting in Abuja has voided the suspension of Senator Ali Ndume and ordered his immediate reinstatement.

The court, presided over by Justice Babatunde Quadri, gave the order in his ruling on Friday.

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The judge also ordered the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, and the Senate to ensure prompt payment of the lawmaker’s salaries and allowances.

“The suspension of the plaintiff (Ndume) is hereby declared illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional. The purported suspension contained in the letter of March 30 is hereby set aside.

“The first and second defendants (the senate president and the senate) are hereby directed to pay the plaintiff his outstanding salaries and allowances forthwith,” the Judge ruled.

Justice Quadri, however, refused to grant the N500 million damages Mr. Ndume asked the court to award him.

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“Relief on the issue of damages is hereby refused, because I hope this will facilitate reconciliation in the senate between the plaintiff and other members of the senate and bring peace to our nascent democracy,” he said.

The ruling comes eight months after Senator Ndume who represents Borno South Senatorial District was suspended.

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