Ex-senate minority leader and former governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has on Wednesday got a reprieve from an FCT High Court in Bwari which prevented senate president Bukola Saraki from declaring his seat vacant.
Justice Othman Musa who gave the order, also barred the senate president from denying Akpabio access to the National Assembly.
In the court order, Justice Musa similarly prevented Saraki from taking any action that will stymie Akpabio’s rights and privileges, pending the determination of the originating summons.
Reports indicated that Justice Musa has ordered service of the originating summons and other processes on Mr Saraki through either the clerk of the National Assembly, clerk of the senate or any other clerk or reasonable staff of the National Assembly at the Assembly complex.
The orders were made after an ex parte application by Mr Akpabio’s lawyers, Chikaosolu Ojukwu and Ebere Ahanonu, seeking to stop alleged moves to declare his seat vacant following his defection from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to the ruling All Progressives Congress.
The suit has been adjourned to August 29 for further hearing.
