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Tag: Zamfara State

  • You can’t enforce High Court judgements, Deputy, others tell Yari

    Eight governorship aspirants of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Zamfara state, including the Deputy Governor, Malam Ibrahim Wakala have faulted moves by Governor, Abdulaziz Yari to enforce the judgement of the State High Court on Zamfara APC candidates tussle.

    The aspirants under the umbrella of G-8 said, an application filed last Friday by governor Yari, seeking the interim enforcement of the judgement of a Zamfara State High Court on the tussle, was strange to the law.

    They however warned the governor against implementing the state High Court judgement and asked the National Judicial Council (NJC) to wade into the matter.

    The aspirants including Senator Kabir Garba Marafa, Wakala, former governor of the state Mahmud Aliyu Shinkafi; Minister of Defence Mansur Dan-Ali; Rep Aminu Sani Jaji; Engineer Abu Magaji, Dauda Lawal and Mohammed Sagir Hamidu, who addressed a press conference in Kaduna on Sunday called for the urgent intervention of the National Judicial Council (NJC) on the matter.

    Nine aspirants purchased the APC governorship forms for the general election with eight of them forming the G-8 following the crisis that trailed the APC’s primaries in the state.

    A Court of Appeal sitting in Sokoto had adjourned the appeal on APC candidates tussle to 19th February, 2019 for hearing and abridged the time for the parties to file briefs.

    Two judgments were delivered on Friday, 25th January on the matter.

    A Federal High Court presided over by Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu held that INEC acted within its powers by refusing to accept list of candidates from a faction of APC in Zamfara State.

    The second judgement was delivered by Justice Muhammad Bello Shinkafi of the High Court in Gusau, Zamfara State.

    Shinkafi affirmed that primaries were conducted and requested INEC to accept the candidates produced from the primaries.

    After studying the two judgments, INEC decided to maintain its earlier position on the matter.

    Read Also: Insecurity: I’m ready to quit as gov – Yari

    Arising from the Zamfara State High Court, two of the defendants in the case before the Zamfara State High Court- Senator Kabiru Garba Marafa and Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji- separately filed notices of appeal against the Judgment of Zamfara State High Court.

    The records of appeal in the appeal by Hon. Aminu Sani Jaji were transmitted to the Court of Appeal Sokoto Division on 7th February, 2019 between 4 – 5pm.

    It was gathered that immediately the record was transmitted by the appellant in the appeal, text messages were sent by the Court of Appeal registry to all counsel in the appeal to come to Court on Friday, 8th February, 2019.

    While at the court on 8th February, 2019, the Appellant’s counsel sought to know why counsel were invited to come to court since records where only transmitted a day before.

    Counsels were informed that it was a pre-election matter which must be disposed of expeditiously since elections are around the corner.

    Counsel for the appellant informed the court that there was no urgency in the matter as the judgement appealed did not exclude anybody from participating in the election.

    However, members of the G-8, who were led to Kaduna for the press conference by Senator Marafa alleged: “It has been rumored that shortly after the adjournment the 1st – 38th Respondents in this appeal (Governor Yari’s camp) have filed a novice application on Friday 8th February, 2019 late in the night around after 9pm and parties were served on Saturday, 9th February, 2019 and were asked to come to court on Monday 11th February, 2019 for hearing of the application”.

    Marafa added: “This motion before the Court of Appeal is said to be seeking the interim enforcement of the judgment of Zamfara State High Court.

    “What is most baffling with the application is that no lawyer has ever seen a Court of Appeal enforcing the judgment of any court below it.

    “It remains to be seen what course justice will take in the matter especially in view of the decision reached by the Supreme Court on Friday 8th February 2019 affirming that INEC was right to take a position not to allow APC field any candidates for violation of the conduct of party primaries in the State.”

  • Buhari to traditional rulers: do more to end banditry

    President Muhammadu Buhari has charged traditional rulers do more in curbing banditry and kidnapping in their communities.

    According to him, he felt disappointed that people close to some of them were found to have a hand in such criminality.

    The President spoke at a meeting with the royal fathers in the Government House on Sunday, as part of the ongoing campaigns.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President expressed the determination of his administration to defend the country from criminals and insurgents.

    “We are determined to defend the nation and its people. We are disappointed with some of the things going on. You are responsible for the security of your neighbourhood. Being close to your people, you know them. You are still relevant. I am sorry this has extended to some of your families,” he said.

    Read Also: “Why Nigerian women’ll vote Buhari”

    Referring to the deployment of a large number of security personnel to the state, President Buhari said that security is also the business of the traditional rulers, not that of the police and other security agencies alone.

    “More security is not good news, but we must do something to secure our environment,” he noted.

    The President commended the gallantry of the security agencies in battling kidnapping and banditry, saying “you know what we have achieved. You had one who styled himself as Buharin Daji, the Buhari of the forests, claiming to be in charge and not I at the centre. He is no more, and by my surviving him, you now know who is stronger.”

    He said he was contesting this election as his fifth and the last, because as he noted, “a second term is what the constitution allows, and I will not abuse the constitution.”

    He thanked the royal fathers for the support he enjoyed so far and appealed to them to back his re-election.

    The Chairman of the council of traditional rulers and Emir of Anka, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmed and the Governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar, praised the efforts of the President in changing the unwanted security situation in the state.

    According to the governor, “From the presence of an ammunition depot manned by just 30 men when you took office in 2015, Zamfara State today boasts of the presence of 4,700 combined security personnel who are assisted by 8,500 State Joint Task Force, SJTF members. We also have the 223 Battalion, the 607 Quick Response Battalion and the 1 Brigade in Gusau.”

    The council of traditional rulers also endorsed President Buhari’s bid for a second term

  • 2019: INEC raises concern over conflicting judgment, orders

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed concern over the conflicting judgments and consequential orders emanating from the Court of laws ahead of the forthcoming 2019 general polls.

    The inconsistency, INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu pointed out is putting the commission in a difficult situation.

    In the last one week, there has been two different court pronouncement on Zamafara, one coming from a High Court in Zamafara while an Abuja High Court also issued a different order concerning INEC decision excluding All Progressive Congress (APC) from Zamfara State from the coming elections as a result of not conducting their primaries within the time lag.

    Already the commission has been dragged into 396 pre-election cases pending court cases as a result of the fallout of the party primaries.

    Besides, the commission has so far received 302 requests for certified true copies of documents from primaries monitored, which serves as a prelude for more legal actions.

    This is aside the 52 petitions on protests from aggrieved party aspirants received by the commission, which all have financial implication to INEC.

    INEC has fixed 16 February, 2019 for the presidential and National Assembly poll while 2nd of March has been slated for the governorship, state Assembly and council elections.

    Speaking yesterday at the workshop election petition for Justice and Judges, Yakubu noted the inevitability of disputes in the course of democratic elections.

    He  therefore explained that because democratic elections are adjudicated by the Judiciary, the commission has always been obeying court orders.

    He however expressed the concern of the commission regarding conflicting orders from the court.

    Yakubu said: For our part, there are two major areas of concern. First is the issue of conflicting judgements arising from pre-electlon and post-election cases. As a firm believer in the rule of law, the Commission always obeys court orders or, where it is considered necessary‘ appeals them In the interest of justice.

    “There have been over 1,200 cases involving the Commission since the 2015 General Elections and not in a single case has the Commission disobeyed a court order. However, conflicting judgements, especially by courts of co-ordinate jurisdiction at the High Court level, are putting the Commission in a very difficult posttion and creating uncertainty in the process.

    “The Court in one judicial division may order the Commission on a particular course of action only to be contradicted by another court of coordinate jurisdiction from another division or even within the same division on the same subject matter. Conflicting court orders are negatively affecting the consistency, neutrality, and public perception, not only of the Commission, but the judiciary as well. There is therefore the urgent need to address the issue of conflicting judgements in order to engender certainty in the electoral process.

    “Our second area of concern relates to the lack of consequential Orders by the Courts after making findings on an issue and stating the position. In such cases, the Commission is compelled to take a position relying on previous decisions of the Court on the subject. This as in some cases made the Commission appear inconsistent and has also led to protracted litigation. Closely related to this, is the issue of Orders to maintain the status quo by the Court without stating the exact status quo intended. This has given room to parties to misinterpret the order to suit their purpose, thereby knowingly causing confusion and controversy.”

    He however reassured Nigerians that “INEC will continue to do its best to bring about free, fair, credible and peaceful general elections in Nigeria this year. We therefore hope to continue to count on the support, cooperation and understanding of all towards attaining that objective. ”

    Read Also: INEC transfers Ekiti REC

    On the workshop, Yakubu said is coming at an auspicious time, barely two weeks to the 20l9 General Elections. There is no gain belaboring the obvious that elections in particular and democratic processes in general are governed by legislation.

    The inevitable disputes that arise in the course of democratic elections are adjudicated by the Judiciary. This means that there is no democracy without the rule of law and there is no rule of law without the Judiciary. It is for this reason that the independent National Electoral Commission (IN EC) considers this Workshop necessary in the best interest of our democracy.

    “The survival of our democratic process and the consolidation of the reforms aimed at entrenching stability and deepening democratic culture and ideals require the commitment of all stakeholders. To this end, as a critical stakeholder in the electoral process, this Workshop is significant to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for at least two reasons. First, it affords INEC a platform to further record its concerns about the adjudication of electoral disputes as we approach the 2019 General Elections. Secondly, to receive feedback from the sector that has reviewed our activities over the years with respect to the areas we need to d9 more in to facilitate the speedy and qualitative administration of justice which, from our study and analysis of previous Judgments, range from the prompt issuance of certified true copies of documents, quality and consistency of our representation, neutrality of the Commission, to making available to the Judiciary our manuals, guidelines and regulations made pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act.”

    In his remark, the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria. Justice Ibrahim Tanko Mohammed stressed the need for the judiciary to be independent and neutral in the discharge of their responsibility.

    He also the warned judges on the need to avoid external influence from political parties.

    He said: “it is Important that the Judiciary must maintain absolute independence. Judges should handle election petitions without any external pressure or influence either by political parties stakeholders or economic interest groups.

    “The Judiciary must continue to take steps to ensure that It is not seen as being partisan but must always demonstrate manifest integrity in its adjudicatory processes. Consequently, Judicial officers serving on election petition tribunals must note that Judgments must not be ambiguous and should be devoid of any form of external Influence. Your Lordships should shun unnecessary associations with lawyers who may be acting as conduits for Politicians no matter how innocent they may be portrayed.

    “You must guard your integrity and the integrity of the Judiciary, by avondmg acts that will bring you under the disciplinary jurisdiction of the National Judicial Council, as It Will not hesitate to Wield the big stick of sanctions to any Judicial Officer who is found wanting in the discharge of his duties”

    He also added that judiciary will do its best to be conversant with the rules.

    “On our part the Judiciary will continue to do its best to ensure that Judicial Officers remain conversant with  the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and other relevant laws toward‘ ensuring efficiency and uniformity in the quality of Judicial decision,” he said

  • Breaking: Zamfara APC: Court okays INEC’s rejection of candidates

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has held that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) acted within its powers by refusing to accept list of candidates for the next general elections from the Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, in a judgment on Friday, said it was not the fault of INEC that the APC failed to conduct a valid primary within the period scheduled by the electoral body.

    Read Also: Trial of CJN: Court of Appeal orders CCT to stay proceedings

    Justice Onjukwu said INEC’s action was intended to curb impunity among political parties and politicians; ensure that rule of law is adhered to.

    The judgment was on a suit filed in the name of APC by some individuals, who said they emerged from a consensus arrangement adopted by the party in Zamfara State.

     

    Details later.

  • Zamfara: Lawmakers threaten court action over members’suspension

    Seven members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly have threatened to sue the Speaker of the house along other members for allegedly breaching the nation’s Constitution.

    The aggrieved members are questioning the constitutionality of the sudden suspension of four members by the Speaker, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, and the remaining 16 of the 24 members of the assembly without following due process and constitutional provisions.

    The aggrieved members are: Salisu Musa, representing Tsafe East, Alhaji Daiyabu Rijiya, representing Gusau 2 as well as the House Chief Whip and his deputy, Alhaji Abdullahi Dansadau and Malam Mani Malam Mummuni, respectively.

    They are being supported by the other three: Alhaji Mansur Bungudu, Alhaji Hamisu Gazuri and Abubakar Nasarawa.

    Speaking on behalf of the group, Alhaji Salisu Musa said, “we are challenging this suspension which we believe was hurriedly carried out without giving us a fair hearing.

    “The house acted on false allegations that we disclosed to an online media that members of the house and some officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs collected N200 million from local government chairmen in order to extend the chairman’s tenure in office which expired on Jan. 2.

    Read also: Air Force neutralises bandits in Zamfara again

    “Other allegations were that we were sponsored to cause chaos in the assembly and that we have been given N30 million by a member of the G8, all of which were baseless and which can only be determined by setting up an investigation committee.

    “The violation of this and the subsequent approval of the remaining members to extend the tenure of the local government councils are directly an abuse on the nation’s constitution and the state’s local government law 2012 as amended,” Musa said.

    Reacting to the allegations, the House Leader, Alhaji Isa Abdulmumini, told journalists that those suspended violated the house rules which led to their suspension.

    “Every member is aware of the house rules and the penalty against violations, so if the affected members feel they were not treated fairly and are threatening to go to court, they are free to, and we will be ready to face them in court.

    “We only suspended four persons and a committee has been constituted to investigate the matter, but we are surprised to hear that three others have joined them.

    “If however, any member decides to follow the suspended ones and abscond from the house sessions, they also know the consequences and the rules will be applied against them, ” Abdulmumini.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the assembly which went on recess, reconvened on Jan. 2nd and Jan. 3 to take decisions on the governor’s request for the tenure extension of the local government councils which was objected by the four suspended members.

    The house, then, suspended them and approved the governor’s request with much ease at its extra ordinary session. (NAN)

  • Insecurity: I’m ready to quit as gov – Yari

    *Says insecurity won’t affect elections

     

    The Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, on Thursday said that if declaration of state of emergency in his state will solve the security problems, he is ready to quit as governor.

    He spoke with State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Noting that the security situation in the state has improved, he said the bandits responsible for the insecurity breed their cattle in the forest and strike occasionally.

    Read Also: FRSC targets to make highways more safer in 2019

    He also accused the security agencies especially the police of not doing enough, lamenting that some of the officers that were transferred out of the state after serving three years have not been replaced.

    According to him, the lingering cases of armed banditry in the state won’t affect the forthcoming election.

    While stating that he met the President over the security situation in the state, he said the issue of the armed banditry was being exaggerated.

    “There is no place being occupied by the armed bandits in Zamfara state. They live and operate in the forest. They strike and run. Most of the camps are known by locals,” he said.

    On his support for declaration of emergency in Zamfara, he said he was not playing politics with it, saying ” I’m not playing politics with it. I’m serious about it.”

    Asked whether he discussed the declaration of emergency with Buhari, he said, ” not at all.“

  • Zamfara Assembly extends tenure of LG chairmen

    The Zamfara State House of Assembly on Wednesday extended the tenure of all the 14 local government chairmen in the state by three months.

    The chairmen, whose three-year tenure expired on Jan. 2, would remain in office till April 2, 2019.

    The assembly however removed from office the vice-chairmen of Zurmi, Birnin-Magaji and Gummi Local Governments.

    The extension was confirmed by the Speaker of the house, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji, during the house plenary.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decision followed a request by the state government to that effect.

    Rikiji said the house accepted and ratified the request in line with Section 15, Sub Section 4 of Zamfara State Local Government Law.

    According to him, the law grants the state governor the right to appoint local government administrators with the confirmation of the house.

    Earlier, the House Leader, Alhaji Isah Abdulmumin, who read the state government’s request in a motion, urged the assembly to approve the request, as the tenure of the chairmen had expired on Jan. 2, 2019.

    The lawmaker representing Maru South constituency, Alhaji Abdullahi Dansadau, had opposed the replacement of the three vice-chairmen, asking the assembly to also allow them continue in office.

    NAN

  • Yari’s plea for emergency rule in Zamfara is commendable – Sen Marafa

    Sen. Kabiru Marafa (Zamfara Central), has commended Gov. Abdulaziz Yari for calling on the Presidency to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara State.

    The Senator made the commendation in an interview with Newsmen in Gusau on Friday, saying that the stand had earned Yari public respect.

    Yari had on Thursday expressed his support over calls for a state of emergency in Zamfara State.

    The governor”s call was made in on the backdrop of continued killings and kidnapping in the state.

    Marafa said that with the call, citizens would appreciate the governor’s concerns for the security challenges facing communities in the state.

    ” I believe he has done what is right and that is not a failure but an indication of his willingness to bring lasting peace to the state,” the senator said. (NAN)

  • Zamfara Acting Gov. expresses concern over resurgence of banditry

    The acting governor of Zamfara state, Alhaji Sanusi Rikiji has expressed concern over the resurgence of banditry in the state, saying the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari would soon be in the country.

    He made the remark when he separately received the Minister of Interior, retired Lt. – Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshall Sadique Abubakar at the Government House, Gusau on Wednesday.

    NAN reports that Dambazau and Abubakar were in the state in connection with the fresh attack in the state by bandits.

    He said, “my governor will soon be in the country and to the state because he has been terribly devastated by the resurgence of banditry when we were just feeling the hoodlums had been defeated and peace had been restored to the state.”

    Rikiji who is also the Speaker of the State’s House of Assembly said, the governor’s return would further boost the planned stakeholders meeting with security personnel and pave the way for new approaches against the bandits.

    In their separate remarks, the federal government officials said they were in the state on the directives of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to them, they would remain in the state to coordinate harsher confrontation against the bandits in Zamfara and all the neighbouring states, especially Sokoto, Kebbi, Katsina, Kaduna and Niger.

    They appealed to the people of the state to give security personnel the necessary support and cooperation so as to ensure the success of the various operations being carried out by security agents deployed to the state.

    The state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari had been away for a while now during which time the bandits returned with more severity, killing particularly villagers, burning houses and food staff. (NAN)

  • ‘Armed bandits killed 5 persons in Zamfara’

    The Zamfara Police Command has confirmed the killing of five persons in Gidan Halilu village in  Birnin-Magaji Local Government Area of the state.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Muhammad Shehu, made the confirmation in a statement issued in Gusau.

    “We wish to confirm that on Dec. 19, a group of armed bandits attacked some villagers of Gidan Halilu Village in Billashe district of Birnin Magaji Local Government Area in their farms.

    “On receiving the report, the command mobilised teams of Police Mobile Force, Counter Terrorism Unit and conventional personnel headed by the Area commander,  Kaura Namoda Police Area Command,  to the affected community.

    “The police teams have been mobilised to the affected village to repel the attack, restore normalcy and arrest the perpetrators,’’  he said.

    Read also: Ogun, Imo and Zamfara on my mind

    The News Agency Nigeria (NAN) reports that five corpses were recovered while one person was injured.

    The corpses were taken to a hospital in Birnin Magaji while the injured was admitted for treatment.

    According to Shehu, the area has been subjected to extensive bush combing with a view to preventing further attacks.

    The police spokesperson said that fear reduction and confidence building patrols, as well as stop and search exercise, were ongoing in the area.

    Shehu, who said normalcy had been restored in the area, appealed to residents to  remain vigilant and report any suspicious movement to the nearest police station for prompt action. (NAN)