The Supreme Court will today determine whether or not to discharge its interlocutory orders of injunction made on May 7, 2015, barring the National Assembly from overriding President Goodluck Jonathan?s veto on the Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Jonathan had through the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), on April 22, 2015 filed an originating summons, in respect of the case, praying the apex court to stop the National Assembly from overriding his veto on the bill.
The court later ordered the parties in dispute to maintain the status quo and adjourned further hearing till June 18, 2015.
Aggrieved by the development, the respondents (National Assembly), which was not represented in court when the orders and adjournment were made, last Friday, asked the apex court to re-list the suit and determine it before the tenure of the 7th National Assembly ends.
The National Assembly?s counsel, Chief Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), in an application, asked the apex court to discharge the interlocutory orders of injunction made on May 7, 2015, which barred the lawmakers from overriding the president?s veto.
Awomolo also asked the court to dismiss the AGF?s originating summons for lack of competence describing it as ?an improper and or reckless invocation of the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.?
He further argued that the AGF was not competent to invoke the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under the Supreme Court (additional jurisdiction) Act.
Awomolo (SAN), had also informed the court that the suit was time bound as the 7th National Assembly was inaugurated on June 6, 2011 for a term of four years that would terminate on June 6, 2015, adding that the case would, thereafter, become indefensible.
