Court gives Saraki, Dogara, 52 others 5 days to respond to suit challenging defection

The Federal High Court Abuja on Friday gave Senate President,
Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and
52 other lawmakers until April 17 to file their responses to a suit
asking them to vacate their seats.

An advocacy group, Legal Defence and Assistance Project, (LEDAP)
dragged the lawmakers to court seeking a declaration that they were
no longer members of the National Assembly having defected to other
political parties before the expiration of their tenure.

The defendants comprise 17 Senators, 37 members of the House of
Representatives, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the
Attorney-General of the Federation and the clerks to both
houses.

When the matter was called, Mr Efut Okoi announced appearance
for the senate and the senators while Safiya Mohammed announced
appearance for the members.

Both counsel urged the court to entertain their applications
noting that a litigant’s choice of counsel was his fundamental
right.

Mr Jubrin Okutepa, (SAN) who announced appearance for LEDAP said
that the defendants were attempting to confuse the court by
changing counsel.

He noted that at Thursday’s proceedings, Mr Mahmud Magaji, SAN,
announced appearance for all the defendants and wondered why that
had changed.

He urged the court to ask Magaji to move the applications he had
earlier filed and strike out any other applications before the
court with regards to the suit.

Magaji, in one of his applications, challenged the jurisdiction
of the court to hear the matter on the grounds that the plaintiff
had no “locus standi” to file the suit.

The trial judge, Justice Okon Abang however held that it was in
the interest of justice to hear all counsel in the matter.

He ruled that the plaintiff, (LEDAP) was at liberty to reply to
all the processes filed by the defendants on or before April 15 and
ordered the defendants to file their reply by April 17.

He said that any party that failed to abide by the court‘s
directive would have itself to blame.

The judge adjourned the matter until April 18.

The court on Thursday, suspended delivering judgment the suit,
even though the judge said it was ready, in order to give the
defendants an opportunity to file their processes so as to give all
parties in the suit fair hearing.

LEDAP, in their suit filed on Sept. 14, 2018, prayed the court
for an interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of the 1999
Constitution.

This was with regards as to whether any member of the National
Assembly who resigns from the political party that sponsored his
election before the expiration of the term for which he was
elected, automatically loses his seat in the assembly.

The group was also seeking a declaration that the lawmakers were
no longer entitled to receive any remuneration due to a member of
the National Assembly and that any of such remunerations after
their date of defection be refunded to the Federal Government.

LEDAP in the suit, also prayed the presiding members of the
National Assembly to declare vacant, the seats of the
defectors.

NEMA Provides Relief to Sokoto Victims of
Banditry

The federal Government through the National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA) has provided relief Assistance to the recent affected
victims of attack unleashed by armed bandits to communities in
Gandi, Rabah Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

The relief materials which consists of food, other household
items, Assorted Drugs and other medical related materials was
distributed at the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp by
Officials of NEMA, SEMA and other delegated authorities in the
state.

Director General of NEMA, Alh. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja who was
represented during the distribution by Head of Account Unit, NEMA
Sokoto Operations Office, Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf stated that the
attack resulted to lost of lives, destruction of properties and
displacement of large numbers residents in the communities.

The relief materials donated to the affected victims taking
solace at the Gandi Primary School IDPs camp are 150 bags each of
Rice (50kg), beans, Maize and Millet (100Kg), 400 Pieces each of
Mattresses, Blankets, Treated Mosquito Nets and Nylon Mats; others
are 200 pieces of Guinea Brocade and 370 pieces of Wax Print.

Also the Drugs and other assorted medical related items provided
to victims consists of Analgesic/Pain relievers, Antibiotics,
Dressing materials, Anti-Inflammatory, Anti-malaria, Anti-virus,
Anti-emetics, Anti-diarrheal, Anti-acids, Anti-intravenous infusion
of different made, tincture iodine, disposable gloves, bandages,
syringes/needles and other medical consumables.

However, the Director Relief and Rehablitation, SEMA Sokoto,
Mallam Mustapha Umar who on behalf of the state government
commended the prompt amd timely response of NEMA to alleviate the
plight of the affected victims. He also promised the relief items
will be shared among affected victims according to every household
needs.

Aliyu Mohammed
Information Officer,
NEMA Sokoto Operations Office.