8 suspended Zamfara lawmakers seek redress in court
By IBRAHIM KANOMA, Gusau
The eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Gusau.
The DEFENDER reports that they are seeking to enforce their constitutional rights to liberty, human dignity, fair hearing and taking possession of their property without recourse to due process.
The case was instituted to challenge seven respondents, including the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the Speaker of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, the Clerk of the Assembly, the Nigeria Police, the Commissioner of Police Zamfara State Command and the Department of State Services (DSS)
The case was for hearing at the Federal High Court on Monday 18 March 2024, but there were complaints from the court registry that some respondents were not served ,the police, the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) civil defense and others that are party to the case,
Counsel to the suspended lawmakers, Ibrahim Ali, sought for adjournment to enable them serve the other respondents
The Presiding Judge, Justice Aminu Bappah, granted the request and adjourned the case to April 29 for hearing.
Lawyer representing the eight lawmakers, Ibrahim Ali, while speaking to journalists shortly after the adjournment, said his clients were alleging that the Speaker, in collaboration with the Nigerian Police, Department of State Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, has attempted to arrest and prosecute them, on the allegations that 17 of them broke into the Zamfara State House of Assembly and sat on February 22, for a plenary session.
After the adjournment the lawyer to the respondents refused to comments on the matter.