Court Strikes Out Fashola’s Suit Seeking To Stop Jang As NGF Chair

An FCT High Court on Thursday struck out a suit by Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola, challenging the purported election of Plateau state Governor, Jonah Jang,
as chairman of a faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

We recall that Mr. Fashola had on June 5 filed the suit asking the court to stop Mr. Jang from parading “himself as the elected Chairman of the NGF in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”

However, on July 17, the Lagos governor filed a motion on notice seeking to withdraw the case. His lead counsel, Prof. Yemi Osibajo (SAN) said Mr. Fashola was withdrawing the suit to enable him to put his house in order.

But Mr. Jang and two other defendants in the suit opposed the motion. Mr. Jang’s lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo, argued vehemently that it was too late for Mr. Fashola to bring the motion after parties in the suit had already determined issues for determination.

In her ruling, Justice Affen however asked the defendants to allow Mr. Fashola’s counsel to first move his motion for withdrawal before advancing reasons for opposing it.

The Lagos governor sued Mr. Jang after the Plateau Governor set up a parallel faction of the Governors’ Forum hours after he was defeated 19 to 16 votes by Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers in a keenly contested chairmanship election.