FG challenges suit against confab

    
The Federal Government has asked an Abuja Federal High Court to dismiss a suit which is challenging the constitutionality of the ongoing national conference.

In the suit, a lawyer, Tunji Abayomi, asked the court to declare that President Goodluck Jonathan lacked the power to convene the conference without an empowering legislation by the National Assembly.

Listed as defendants in the suit are the President, the Attorney General of the Federation, Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the conference, Justice Idris Kutigi, the Vice Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, and the Secretary, Dr. Mrs. Valerie Azinge.

The defendants are opposing the suit.

Counsel for the defendants, Femi Falana, SAN, in a preliminary objection, asked the court to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the plaintiff, Abayomi, has no locus standi to file the suit.

Falana equally argued that there was no cause of action in the suit, and that the President has constitutional power to convene the conference.

He also submitted that the court lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit.

The presiding judge, Justice Abdul Kafarati, adjourned the matter to May 8 for hearing.

In the suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/ 167/204 and dated March 3, 2014, Abayomi asked the court to declare the conference as null and void.