The Federal High Court has ordered that a federal lawmaker, Femi Gbajabiamila be served the proceedings of the suit seeking to remove him from the House of Representatives over his alleged conviction in the US for fraud-related offences through substituted means.

The suit filed by Philip Undie had alleged that Gbajabiamila was not a fit and proper person to be elected as a federal lawmaker or Speaker having been allegedly convicted of a $25,000 fraud by the Supreme Court of the State of Georgia, USA.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Court said that since the court was unable to serve the processes on Gbajabiamila in person, the lawyer to the plaintiff, Olasupo Azeez should do so by substituted means.

“Cases of this nature are of public interest, and it’s either you are ready or not,” Justice Ekwo said and consequently adjourned the matter until Friday, June 7 for further mention.

The originating summons filed by Undie through an originating summons by his lawyer, Barr. Ayodele Justice submitted that Gbajabiamila contended that going by Section 66(1) (C) and (D) of the 1999 Constitution and the verdict of the Supreme Court of Georgia, ‘the mood of our nation today will not warrant placing the position of the speaker of the House of Representatives in the hands of any individual that has a tainted or questionable character.”

In the affidavit attached to the suit, Undie averred that Gbajabiamila, who was then known as Femi Gbaja accepted payment of $25,000 client’s money as personal injury claims and deposited those funds in his attorney trust account in January, 2003, which he failed to disburse to the client.

He further stated that Gbajabiamila violated Rule 1-15(1) of Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct in Bar Rule 4-102(d), which is punishable with disbarment and was suspended from law practice in the USA for three years even though he refunded the client’s money in 2006, after which his lawyers filed a certification of compliance with the Supreme Court ruling in March, 2007.

Meanwhile, a member of the House of Representatives, Raphael Nnanna, has brought an application to be joined in the suit seeking to stop Gbajabiamila and Justice Ekwo has directed  his counsel to file an application for joinder on the parties in court.