An Ikeja High court on Wednesday fixed Nov. 20 to hear the suit filed by former Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State against his being probed by the State House of Assembly over the purchase of 820 buses in the Bus Reform Project of his administration.
Ambode had instituted the civil suit against the State Assembly; its Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa; and the House Clerk, Mr A.A. Sanni.
Other respondents in the suit are Mr Fatai Mojeed, the Chairman of the ad-hoc Committee set up by the House to probe the procurement of the buses and the other eight members of the Committee.
The eight ad-hoc committee members were Mr Gbolahan Yishawu, Mr A.A. Yusuf, Mr Yinka Ogundimu, Mrs Mojisola Meranda, Mr M.L. Makinde, Mr Kehinde Joseph, Mr Temitope Adewale and Mr Olanrewaju Afinni.
On Oct. 29, following a Motion ex-parte moved by Ambode’s counsel, Mr Tayo Oyetibo (SAN), Justice Yetunde Adesanya, ordered that the lawmakers appear before the court on Oct. 30 in connection with the ongoing probe.
None of the lawmakers was in court but they were all represented by a counsel, Mrs Adenike Oshinowo.
Oyetibo, told the court that all the respondents had been served with the court processes the previous day.
“Your lordship directed that we serve the respondents with the Application of Notice which has been done.
“We are ready for the Application of Notice filed on Oct. 28 and all the originating processes have been served,” Oyetibo told the court as the case was called up.
Responding, Oshinowo informed the court that the lawmakers will be opposing the Motion and that the respondents were served the court documents very late the previous day.
“We were served the Motion on Notice very late yesterday my lord and we shall be opposing the Motion.
“We shall be asking the court for a date to regularise our processes,” she said.
Following the submissions of counsel, Justice Adesanya while adjourning the case, ordered parties to maintain the status quo.
“This case is adjourned to Nov. 20 at the instance of both counsel for hearing,” the judge ruled.
