Group sues Saraki, Melaye, Akpabio, others over defection

Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), has dragged Senate President, Bukola Saraki and 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 as defendants were the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the deputy senate president,and the 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.
It is also seeking a declaration that the lawmakers are no longer entitled to receive remunerations due to a member of the National Assembly and that any of such remunerations after their date of defection should be refunded to the federal government.
LEDAP in the suit filed on September 14, 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

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