The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) has dragged Senate President Bukola Saraki, and some other lawmakers to court seeking a declaration that they are no longer members of the National Assembly.
In a suit filed before an Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, the group joined Godswill Akpabio, the former senate minority leader; Dino Melaye; and Rabiu Kwankwaso as defendants. Twelve other senators and 36 members of the House of Representatives were also joined as defendants.
Also joined in the suit as defendants, are the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the deputy senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The suit is seeking, among others, a declaration that by virtue of section 68(1) (g) of the Nigerian Constitution, any member of the National Assembly who resigns from the political party that sponsored his election into the National Assembly before the expiration of the term for which he was elected, automatically loses his seat in the Assembly.
It is also seeking a declaration that the lawmakers are no longer entitled to receive any remuneration due to a member of the National Assembly and that any of such remunerations after their date of defection be refunded to the federal government.
LEDAP, in the suit filed on September 14, also prayed the presiding members of the National Assembly to declare vacant the seats of the defectors.
No date has been fixed yet for the hearing of the suit.
