A Federal High court sitting in Abuja has fixed Friday 14 September for ruling on whether or not to stop the House of Representatives from going ahead with impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan over alleged budget implementation offences.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole reserved the ruling after listening to an ex parte application brought by the national chairman of the African Liberation Party, Emmanuel Osita Okereke
The counsel to the plaintiff/applicant, Alex Williams had while moving the application prayed the court to grant an interim order restraining the leadership of the House of Representatives from proceeding with the impeachment as it was capable of distracting the president from discharging his duties.
However, Justice Kolawole said he needed time to study the processes to enable him deliver a ruling.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the House of Representatives; the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice and President Jonathan.
In his affidavit in support of the originating summons, the plaintiff stated that the move to impeach the president from office for non-implementation of 100 percent of the 2012 budget in July 2012 is heating up the polity.
He also averred that the September deadline issued by the house for 100 percent implementation of the budget which is three months earlier than the end of 2012 calendar year and six months from the end of the 2012 budget / fiscal year is a threat to political stability.
