Lawyer sues Saraki for declaring IG Idris unfit to hold public office

- Barrister Debo Adeleke filed the suit at a Federal High Court in Lagos where he is based and wants the court to order that Saraki and others as being without powers to make such declaration against the IG 

- The suit has Saraki, the Senate of the National Assembly and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu as respondents - Adeleke says he filed the suit in public interest; to uphold the sanctity of the Nigerian constitution Senate President Bukola Saraki has been dragged before a Federal High Court in Lagos for declaring Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris unfit to hold public office in Nigeria. 

Vanguard reports that Lagos-based lawyer Debo Adeleke filed a suit against Saraki and joined as co-respondents the Senate of National Assembly and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, as first and third respondents respectively. 

The applicant wants the court to order that the National Assembly, Saraki and Ekweremadu are not courts of law and therefore lacked the jurisdiction and to declare the Police boss a persona non grata and unfit to hold public office within and outside Nigeria and as an enemy of democracy. 

He also prayed the court for an order to declare that the power of the Senate of National Assembly to invite a public officer under its power of investigation in Section 88 of 1999 Constitution (as amended), is limited and it is only to enable it to make laws with respect to any matter within its legislative competence and correct and defect in the existing laws. 

He said the invitation of Idris was over the arrest and arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye and was therefore subjudice and an undue interference with Police constitutional power of investigation, arrest and arraignment of suspects. In a 27-paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summon, Adeleke said he filed the lawsuit in public interest to defend and uphold the sanctity of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Vanguard reports that Adeleke's suit comes just days after IG Idris appealed to the Federal High Court in Abuja to reject as invalid the Senate’s declaration that he is an enemy of democracy and unfit to hold public office within and outside the confines of Nigeria. 

The IGP on Thursday, June 7, began the process of suing the Senate and its president, Bukola Saraki, by obtaining the court’s leave, the order which allows him to file a substantive action for “a judicial review” of the actions leading to the resolution passed by the Red Chamber. 

Justice John Tsoho, in granting the leave to Idris on Thursday, said: “I am convinced that the applicant has shown sufficient interest in the issues raised”.