In a preliminary objection filed against the suit,
Jonathan insisted that the ousted CBN governor
ought to have taken his case to the National
Industrial Court, NIC, contending that in line with
section 254 (c) (1a) of the 1999 Constitution as
amended, only the industrial court had the statutory
powers to meddle into any dispute between an
employer and his employee.
Similarly, the Attorney General of the Federation and
Minister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke, SAN, and
the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed
Abubakar, who were both joined in the suit by Sanusi
as 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively, urged the
high court to strike it out for want of jurisdiction.
Earlier, Sanusi had through his lawyer, Dr. Kola
Awodehin, SAN, maintained that there was never a
time employer/employee relationship existed
between him and President Jonathan, adding that he
was never an employee of the Federal Government.
Besides, Awodehin, SAN, urged the court to
consolidate and hear together both his client's
originating summons and the three preliminary
objections against the suit, a request that was
vehemently opposed by all the defendants.
Though President Jonathan through his lawyer, Dr.
Fabian Ajodu, SAN, expressed his intention to file an
affidavit to reply Sanusi's contention that he was
never an employee of the federal government, he
urged the court to hear and determine the issue of
jurisdiction first.
In his submission, counsel to the AGF, Chief Mike
Ozhokome, SAN, told the court that there was need
to also counter Sanusi's claim that he was still in
charge of the CBN, considering that he had not
handed over to Mrs. Sarah Alade who, he said, was
illegally appointed as the acting CBN governor by
Jonathan.
"My Lord, all the defendants have filed their notices
of preliminary objection, challenging the jurisdiction
of this court to hear this matter; it is our humble
application that the objection be taken together with
the main suit," Awodehin said.
Via: Vanguard
No comments:
Post a Comment