From Gyang Bere, Jos
A Plateau State High Court sitting in Jos has restored Rt Hon Abok Nuhu Ayuba as the legitimate Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly.
Abok was illegally impeached on Thursday October 28, 2021 by six out of the 24 members of the State House of Assembly at odd hours and replaced him with Rt. Hon. Yakubu Sanda
But two members of the House, who were not satisfied with the impeachment procedure, Hon Gwattson D Fom, member representing Jos South and Tyem Pirfa Jongfa, member representing Langtang Central dragged the entire House to court and challenged the impeachment process.
Justice Nefisa L. Musa in her Judgement on Monday restored Rt. Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba as the Speaker of the House and directed the constituted authority to pay him all his entitlement.
She declared ” That the removal of the 1st Defendant (Rt. Hon. Nuhu Abok Ayuba) as Honourable Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly by the votes of less than Two thirds majority or 16 members of the Plateau State House of Assembly was in violation of the provisions of section 92 (2) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered and Order 7 Rule 14 of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rules 2021 and therefore unconstitutional, null, void and of no effect.
“That the election of the 2nd Defendant (Yakubu Sandra) as the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly on the 28th day of October, 2021 in violation of the provisions of Section 92 (2) (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered and Order 7 Rule 14 of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rules 202) is invalid unconstitutional and null and void.”
She added that the provision of Order 7(14) of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rules, (202]) which must be strictly complied with before the removal of a Speaker were not complied with thereby rendering the removal of Abok null and void.
Justice Musa granted a perpetual injunction restraining Hon. Yakubu Sanda from parading himself as the Speaker of the House and award a fine of N20 million against the defendants.
She granted an order of mandatory, directing the House to recognise Ret Hon Nuhu Abok Ayuba as the legitimate Speaker of the House.
The lead Counsel in Court to the Claimant, Davou Chuwang described the judgement as Victor for democracy.
Hon. Nuhu Abok expressed gratitude to God for restoring him to his seat and said he would resumed sitting tomorrow (Tuesday).
Meanwhile, Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Nanlong Daniel said the has not received any court order and cannot act based on rumour.
“The House of Assembly is a respected institution that abide by law, and it is a product of the law just like all members of the House. I want to say that it is a rumour that is going round that the former Speaker has actually obtain judgement from a court of law.
“As Chairman House Committee on information, I have call the Speaker and the Clerk to get clarity on the issues and to the best of my knowledge, the House has not been serve with the court judgement. We are not aware of any court judgement,” he stated.