TheCable

A high court in Ikeja, Lagos, has ordered the state house of assembly to suspend its probe of Akinwunmi Ambode, former governor of the state, pending the hearing of his suit.

Yetunde Adesanya, the judge, gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by Ambode through Tayo Oyetibo, his counsel.

The house is probing the administration of the ex-governor over alleged financial impropriety.

Ambode had filed a suit before the court, arguing that the procurement of 820 buses was fully captured in the state’s 2018 appropriation bill, which was duly approved by the house.

The respondents include Mudashiru Obasa, speaker of the assembly, Azeez Sanni, the assembly clerk; Fatai Mojeed, chairman of the ad hoc committee set up by the house to probe the procurement, and members of the committee — Gbolahan Yishawu, A.A Yusuff, Yinka Ogundimu, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, M.L Makinde, Kehinde Joseph, T.A Adewale and O.S Afinni.

The court had on Tuesday ordered Oyetibo to put the respondents on notice before hearing all applications.

During proceedings on Wednesday, Oyetibo confirmed that notice has been served on the respondents.

Adenike Oshinowo, counsel to the respondents, however, argued that the motion was served late, requesting that the respondents be given time to “regularise our processes”.

Adesanya granted Oshinowo’s request and adjourned the matter till November 20 at the instance of the parties.