FRESH ON PLHA IMPEACHMENT: ONLY 11 MEMBERS, REMOVED SPEAKER ABOK. CLAIMANTS TELL COURT IN SUIT NO: PLD/J585/2021

By: Valentine Adese (JP) and Paul Naomi,

Two members, Hon. Gwottson D. Fom (Member Representing Jos South State Constituency) and Hon. Tyem Pirfa Jingfa (Member Representing Langtang North-North State Constituency), who are Claimants in Suit No: PLD/J585/2021, have told the Plateau State High Court presided over by, Hon. Justice N. Musa … that only 11 members sat in the chambers of the Plateau State House of Assembly by 6.00am on 28^th October, 2021, to impeach/remove the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Nuhu A. Abok.

You would recall that REALITY had reported that, the suit No: PLD/J585/2021, filed on behalf of the Claimants by, E.G. Pwajok (SAN) of Pwajok, Ikowe & Co; of No. 28 Ahmadu Bello Way, Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, is seeking for an Order of Perpetual Injunction, restraining Hon. Sanda (2^nd Defendant) from parading himself, as the Honourable Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, among other Orders.

The Claimants, (Hon. Gwottson D. Fom and Hon. Tyem Pirfa Jingfa), on the face of the suit are also claiming N200million from the Defendants, as Exemplary Damages, if the suit succeeds.

The suit, which is coming by way of Originating Summons is seeking the Court to determine, Whether by the provision of Order 6 Rules (1) and (2) of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rules 2021, the Plateau State House of Assembly can commence sitting at any time earlier than 10 am in the forenoon on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; and earlier than 9 am on Fridays.

Secondly, whether the commencement of the sitting of the Plateau State House of Assembly, between the Hours of 6 am and 7am, on Thursday the 28^th day of October, 2021 was not in violation of Order 6 Rule 1 of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rules 2021 and whether the requirements of Order 14 of the Plateau State House of Assembly Rules 2021 are conditions precedent to be strictly complied with before the removal of the speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, among other four questions. 

In the Affidavit in support of the ORIGINATING SUMMONS, the Deponent, Hon. Fom Dalyop Gwottson, the 1^st Claimant, who is the Member elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to represent, Jos South State Constituency in the Plateau State House of Assembly State has averred that, only Eleven (11) members, sat to impeach/remove and do other business of the Plateau State House of Assembly by 6.00am, on the 28^th of October, 2021. 

READ THE DEPOSITION IN PART, BELOW:-

1. That on Thursday, 28th October, 2021, at 5.30am I got information by text message from my colleague aforesaid who represents Langtang North-North in the Plateau State House of Assembly, that the House would be sitting by 6.00 am on that day which information I verily believe to be true.

2. That I then rushed to the State House of Assembly at about 6.30 am but was prevented from entering the Complex by well-armed security personnel made up of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps who surprisingly surrounded the House.

3. That I then went to the back entrance but was also prevented from gaining access by other security personnel of the Nigeria Police in spite of introducing myself as a bona fide Honourable Member of the House. I was told by the Policemen that as a member representing Jos South, I would not be allowed into the premises.

4. That two other members, namely, the 2nd Claimant and Honourable NanbolListick representing Langtang North Central State Constituency joined me at the back entrance but the Police also refused them entry.

5. That after about twenty minutes of waiting, we returned to the main entrance and forced our way into the premises at about 7.00 am when we noticed that some of our colleagues were inside the premises.

6. That as I walked into the premises with my colleague aforesaid, I saw eleven (11) of our colleagues emerging from the Assembly building and when I inquired from them what had transpired inside, they said they had just concluded the sitting of the House and had impeached Honourable NuhuAbokAyuba representing Jos East State Constituency as the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

7. That Honourable Naanlong .G. Daniel, representing Mikang State Constituency and I immediately exchanged hot words in disagreement on the time of the sitting and the wrong procedure adopted in removing the Speaker. One of the said seven colleagues Honourable Sohchang Zingtim representing Langtang South State Constituency joined us and told me that he was present in the House during the early morning sitting, which information I verily believe to be true, that he disagreed with the other eleven Members, namely:

1. Hon. Saleh Shehu Yipmong representing Dengi State Constituency.
2. Hon. Ismaila .H. Bala representing Kantana State Constituency.
3. Hon. Eric Dakogol representing Qua’anpan North State Constituency.
4. Hon. Abubakar Mohammed Balo representing Qua’anpan South State Constituency.
5. Hon. Kwapfuan Livinus representing Shendam State Constituency.
6. Hon. Ibrahim Baba Hassan representing Jos North North State Constituency.
7. Hon. Yahaya Mavo representing Wase State Constituency.
8. Hon. Abdul .A. Yanga representing Mangu North State Constituency.
9. Hon. Amurudu Huaani representing Bokkos State Constituency.

You would recall that this paper had reported that, the leadership crisis rocking the Plateau State House of Assembly has deepened once more, as the Plateau State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice N. Musa has fixed 31^st January, 2022, to look into the suit No: PLD/J585/2021, before it.