A Federal High Court in Abuja has refused to grant a request to stop the Police from its on-going investigation of the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu and some others in relation to the alleged forgery of the 2015 Standing Rules of the Senate.
Justice Gabriel Kolawole, in his ruling, refused an ex-parte application filed by Senator Gilbert Emeka Nnaji, in which he sought to restrain the Police from proceeding with the investigation and making public the report of the inquiry.
Senator Nnaji had sought interim orders to restrain the defendants in the case, the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase and the Attorney General of the Federation pending the determination of his substantive suit.
The substantive suit is challenging the constitutionality of the investigation within the context of the doctrine of Separation of Power.
However, Justice Kolawole said he could not grant the request sought by the plaintiff at the ex-parte stage when his court possesses the power to conduct a judicial review of the action complained about in the substantive suit.
He also refused the plaintiff’s request to abridge the time within which the defendants could respond.
According to him, while the court’s rules allow defendants 30 days, within which to respond, a reduction in the period must be with the consent of parties in the suit.
He ordered the defendants to appear and explain why he should not grant the request of the plaintiff in his ex-parte application.
After hearing the applications, Justice Kolawole adjourned the case till August 4.