Lawyers ask court to compel Reps to issue arrest warrant for NILDS DG

A group of legislative lawyers has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to compel the House of Representatives to issue an arrest warrant for the Director-General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), Prof. Abubakar Olanrewaju Suleiman, over his alleged failure to honour a summons by a House committee.

 

The suit was filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP) against the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the House Committee on Legislative Library, Research and Documentation, Yusuf Galambi.

 

ALDRAP is seeking an order of mandamus directing the House to exercise its constitutional powers under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution by issuing a warrant for Suleiman’s arrest after he allegedly failed to appear before the committee on June 18, 2026.

 

The association also wants the court to affirm that the House has the constitutional authority to compel attendance and enforce compliance with lawful summons, including against individuals who refuse to appear.

 

According to the plaintiffs, Suleiman was invited to appear before the committee but failed to honour the invitation despite constitutional and statutory provisions empowering the National Assembly to compel attendance.

 

The case is linked to an earlier suit in which ALDRAP asked the court to remove Suleiman as NILDS Director-General, alleging that he contested the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Kwara State without resigning his appointment as required by the Electoral Act and a presidential directive.

 

The association is also asking the court to declare Suleiman’s continued stay in office unlawful and compel the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives to appoint an acting Director-General pending the appointment of a substantive head for the institute.

 

ALDRAP said it has submitted documents to the House committee, including correspondence with the APC, a query issued to Suleiman by the NILDS Governing Council, and other materials it said support its claims regarding his participation in the party’s governorship primary.