Kashamu’s Suspension: Maintain status quo, Court tells PDP

…Adjourns case to Feb. 22
Justice Valentine Ashi of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory sitting in Apo, Abuja, has described as illegal, the suspension by the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) suspension of Buruji Kashamu, the senator representing Ogun East senatorial district of Ogun state.

The court has also fixed February 22 for the hearing of the case‎.

The court described the action of the party as contemptious adding that staus quo must be maintained by parties in the matter.

It could be recalled that shortly before the National Convention of the party on December 9, 2017, the PDP suspended Kashamu over alleged anti-party activities.

When the case came up before Justice Ashi on Wednesday, counsel to Kashamu, Mr. Charles Ndukwe, told the court about the action of the PDP in suspending the Senator, describing it as illegal.

At the last adjourned date, the parties in the suit agreed that no further step will be taken pending the hearing and determination of the case.

Ndukwe told the court that the PDP has already gone ahead to suspend the senator while the case is still pending.

Ndukwe argued a motion before the court to set aside the suspension.

He prayed the court to set aside Kashamu’s suspension and and order that status quo be maintained in the matter.

However, Justice Ashi in a short ruling declared the suspension of Kashamu as illegal and described the action of the party as being contemptuous.

He further adjourned the case for hearing.

In December, a Federal High Court in Abuja struck out a suit which the Senator filed to prevent the PDP from taking disciplinary measures against him.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the court struck out the suit after he upheld the party’s objection which challenged the competence and validity of the suit filed by the senator.

Doosuur Iwambe – Abuja