FCT tells court to strike out el-Rufai’s case

The FCT Administration on Thursday asked an Abuja High Court to strike out a suit filed by the former FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, challenging the revocation of some of his plots.

The FCT Ministry through its counsel, Mr. Benson Igbanoyi, in a preliminary objection, urged Justice Lawal Gummi, who presided over the case, to dismiss the suit on the grounds that the case was not “justiciable”.

He also wanted the court to discontinue the case because it lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter.

The counsel argued that el-Rufai could not file a suit against land disputes, which involved a Federal Agency or Ministry at an Abuja High Court.

El-Rufai had filed a suit challenging a resolution passed by the Senate in 2009, ordering the Ministry of the FCT to revoke more than 19 plots belonging to him and his relations.

It would also be recalled that the Federal Executive Council also approved the revocation.

Igbanoyi urged the court to throw out the suit because el-Rufai lacked the locus standi to file such a suit.

In a counter affidavit, counsel to el-Rufai, Mr Abdulrasaq Mustapha, disagreed that his client did not have a right to challenge any government agency or ministry at an Abuja High Court.

Mustapha argued that his client had the right to own as many property as possible in FCT.

He urged Gummi to throw out the preliminary objection and allow the suit to go on on its merit.

After hearing all the arguments, the judge fixed January 20, 2011 for ruling on the preliminary objection.
Source:punchng.com