Ex-Governor Akinwunmi Ambode
Lagos Lawmakers Gets Court Nod To Investigate Ambode Over 820 Buses
The coast is now clear for the lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly, to probe Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the immediate past governor of the State, over the purchase of 820 buses for the Lagos State Bus Reform Project.
The Lawmakers’ liberty to probe Mr. Ambode was sequel to the dismissal of suit filed before the court by the former governor to stop his invitation, investigation and interrogation by the Lawmakers on the said buses,
The court presided by Justice Yetunde Adesanya in a ruling on Ambode’s suit held that ‘the said the Ad-hoc Committee set up to investigate Ambode is a fact finding committee and that an investigation is not an indictment.
“The claimant (Ambode) has not been indicted. An invitation by an agency of government cannot in anyway cause a breach of the threat of the fundamental rights of the claimant. “I hereby find that the claimant’s action is an invitation to the court to cripple the legislative exercise of the statutory power of the Lagos State House of Assembly under Section 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution.
“That is not the function of the court and no court of law should accede such invitation. The claimant’s suit is hereby struck out”, she said.
Ambode had instituted the suit against the State House of Assembly, its Speaker Mr Mudashiru Obasa and the House Clerk, Mr A.A Sanni.
Other respondents to 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 eight members of the Committee.