Bauchi female lawmaker yet to resume in spite of court order

Hon. Rifkatu Danna, the reinstated member of Bauchi State House of Assembly on Tuesday could not resume because the House was not in session.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Danna was reinstated by a Bauchi High Court after an eight months’ suspension.
Danna, who was at the assembly complex, did not meet her colleagues as well as the principal officers of the House.
She only saw the Deputy Clerk and the Director of Legislation, who did not attend to her in defiance of the court order.
Danna told newsmen: “I had earlier gathered that the members have shifted their sitting to an unknown venue to prevent me from joining them and I can see that.
“I thought these were my colleagues and they will receive me back with joy after allowing me to undergo all sorts of rigours but to my greatest surprise they have decided to punish me further.
“This is also flagrant disobedience to court order as it has directed that I should be re-instated immediately.”
She said that she went to residence of the Speaker, Alhaji Yahya Miya, but was prevented from gaining access by security operatives.
Danna said: “My visit to residence of the speaker is based on the advice from my counsel and I think the only option left for me now is to report back to my lawyer who will appropriately guide me on the next line of action.
“You heard me discussing with the clerk on phone and he told me that the House has yet to be served with the court order in spite of the fact that my lawyer served them on Monday.
“Therefore, you can see that there is foul play.”
A reliable source at the office of the clerk told NAN that all the members were in Bununu, Headquarters of Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area, to witness the inauguration of a Community Radio.
The source denied the insinuation that the members relocated to the house of the speaker to frustrate Danna’s reinstatement.
The source said: “The House Committees on Information and Land are in Israel and London respectively on official engagements.
“Therefore, even if the House sits, there will be no quorum.”
NAN recalled that a Bauchi High Court on May 30, ordered the reinstatement of Danna.
The court also ordered that she be paid her eight months’ salaries, constituency and committee allowances during the period the suspension lasted.
It further ordered that her security operatives and official car be restored without further delay.