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Following exposure of plot, the suit seeking to declare vacant the seat of member representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere on baseless ground has been withdrawn in the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Abuja Judicial Division.
Recall that the Suit No.FHC/Abj/cs/28/1/2025, dated 18, February 2025 was filed by one Hon. Augustine Nwachukwu, Hon. ThankGod Okeke and 3 others believed to be supporters and loyal to FCT minister Nyesom Wike.
In the court documents made available to journalists, the plaintiffs sought the determination of the following questions: “Whether by virtue of the provisions of Sections 65 (2)(b), 68(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), any member of the National Assembly who has lost the membership of the political party that sponsored his election into the National Assembly, before the expiration of the term for which he was elected automatically loses his seat in the Assembly, unless saved by the exception under that section. Whether by virtue of the provisions of Sections 65 (2)(b), 68(1)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended), the 1st Defendant who was expelled from the 3rd Defendant (the political party that sponsored his election as a member of the National Assembly), before the expiration of the term for which he was elected, has automatically lost his seats in the National Assembly.”
However in a notice discontinuance dated February 20, 2025, the Plaintiffs/Applicants stated that they do not intend to continue with the matter anymore.
It read in part, “NOTICE OF DISCONTINUANCE BROUGHT PURSUANT TO ORDER 50 RULE 2 OF THE FEDERAL HIGH COURT CIVIL PROCEDURE RULES 2019 AND UNDER THE NHERENT JURISDICTION OF HE COUR TAKE NOTICE that the Plaintiffs/Applicants herein intend and doth hereby wholly TAKE NOTICE that the Plaintiffs/Applicants herein intend and doth hereby wholly discontinue their suit (i.e. SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/281/2025 BETWEEN HON. AUSTINE NWACHUKWU & ORS V. HON. IKENGA ONYINYE UGOCHINYERE IKEAGWUONU & ORS against all the Defendants in the above-mentioned suit.
“The Plaintiffs/Applicants filed SUIT NO: FHC/ABJ/CS/281/2025 BETWEEN HON. AUSTINE NWACHUKWU & ORS V. HON. IKENGA ONYINYE UGOCHINYERE IKEAGWUONU & ORS. on the 18th day of February, 2025. Non of the Defendants have been served with the Originating summons. Plaintiffs/Applicants do not intend to continue with the matter anymore.”
Reacting to the withdrawal, Pro-democracy advocacy group: Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) in a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko said they are not surprised the suit was withdrawn, because it was laughable, baseless, and not backed by any known law or judicial precedent in Nigeria.
The group however alleged that move still on to secretly refile it, but that it will still be dead on arrival, adding that it’s high time desperate individuals to grow up and stop making mockery of the judiciary and rule pf law.
