Court Orders Lagos Assembly, Ambode To Maintain Status Quo

By Moses Godonu

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has ordered the State Assembly and the former governor, Akinwunmi Ambode to maintain the status quo in connection with the ongoing probe of procurement of 820 buses by the administration of the former governor

The order  which was made a sequel to a request by the Counsel to the Lagos State House of Assembly,  Adenike Oshinowo who requested more time to file a response to the suit filed by the former governor.

The former governor had through his lawyer, Tayo Oyetibo instituted a suit against the State House Assembly to contest the constitutionality of the probe of 820 buses which he said were procured based on budgetary approval as part of the Bus Reform Project of the State Government.

He added that the procurement was designed to revolutionise public transportation in line with global best practices.

Ambode had earlier asked the court to stop the State House of Assembly from probing him over the 820 mass transit buses purchased by his administration.

Lagos lawmakers had accused Ambode of purchasing the 820 buses in breach of budgetary provisions. The House issued a summons for the ex-governor to appear on Wednesday before an ad hoc committee set up to probe the purchase of the buses.

The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, threatened that the House would issue a warrant for Ambode’s arrest should he continue to shun invitation by the lawmakers.

Ambode, through his lawyer had appeared before Justice Y.A. Akinsanya on Tuesday with an ex parte application, seeking an interim order of injunction against the lawmakers.