8 suspended Zamfara lawmakers drag Attorney General, Speaker to court

The eight members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly who were recently suspended by their colleagues have filed a suit against the State Attorney General and the Speaker, among others at the Federal High Court in Gusau, the state capital.

The presiding judge, Justice Aminu Bappa, on Monday, March 18, 2024, granted the motion and adjourned the case to April 29 for a hearing to enable serve the respondents.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the court sitting, the counsel for the eight suspended lawmakers, Ibrahim Ali, sought a date for the matter to be heard, to enable them to serve the other respondents.

He said the eight suspended lawmakers instituted a suit at the court, challenging the breach of their constitutional rights to liberty, human dignity, fair hearing, and taking possession of their property without due process.

Zamfara Assembly suspends 8 lawmakers over Speaker’s impeachment

Ali said: “The suit was against seven respondents, including the State’s Attorney General, and Commissioner for Justice, the Speaker of Zamfara State House of Assembly, the Clerk of the House, the State Commissioner of Police, and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS)”.

“The case was for hearing at the Federal High Court in Gusau, but due to complaints from the registry that some respondents such as the state Commissioner of Police, the Director of the Department of State Service (DSS), and others were not served.”

According to him, his clients alleged that the Speaker, in connection with the police, DSS, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have embarked on an attempt to arrest and prosecute them on grounds that 17 lawmakers broke into the Assembly complex and held a plenary on February 22.

It would be recalled that the Assembly suspended the eight lawmakers for allegedly breaking the law and constitution of the Assembly.

Idris Salisu

The Star