No court order compelling NASS to impeach Buhari

Contrary to recent reports, the Osogbo High Court presided over by Justice Maurine Adaobi Onyetenu did not order the National Assembly to commence impeachment process against President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to a two-page certified true copy of the court papers signed by the Senior Registrar, H.E Enemodia, the court only granted the applicants, M rKanmi Ajibola and Sulaiman Alimi, the leave to issue and bring an application to the court for an the order of mandamus to compel the National Assembly to start the impeachment proceedings against the President.

Ajibola, had on 19th of June, 2018 deposed to an affidavit in support of the application where he listed the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara and the National Assembly as 1st, 2nd and 3rd respondents respectively; and Buhari and the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation as 4th and 5th respondents.

In his court papers, Ajibola was seeking “an order of the court to grant him the leave to issue and bring an application for the prerogative order of mandamus to compel the 1st to 3rd respondents to perform their statutory duty of commencing an impeachment proceeding against the president.”

Justice Onyetenu said “the applicants are hereby granted the leave to issue and bring an application for the order of mandamus to compel the 1st to 3rd respondents to start impeachment proceedings against the 4th respondent the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”.

Justice Onyetenu adjourned the matter to October 30, 2018.