The Governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu Thursday secured a Minna High Court interim injunction, restraining the State House of Assembly from setting in motion any process to impeach him.
Honourable Justice Idris Evuti granted the three prayers as deposed to in an affidavit by the State Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Abdullahi Bawa Wuse.
The suit no NSHC/MN/54/2015 instituted by the governor against the Speaker Isah Kawu, the Clerk Mohammed Kagara, the Assembly, Commissioner of Police and the Director of State Security Service in the state.
By the action, the executive arm has on Thursday recognised the leadership of Kawu who was elected on Monday after the impeachment of Barrister Adamu Usman and three other principal officers by 19 out of 25 members of the house.
The applicant in a motion exparte application moved by his counsel Rotimi Ojo prayed for the order of the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants jointly and severally from setting in motion any process of impeachment of the applicant pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
He also prayed that the defendants be restrain from impeaching and accepting any nomination of any purported candidate for the position of acting governor of Niger State.
The court has fixed May 27, 2015 for hearing of the substantive case.
Efforts to get Speaker Kawu failed as the Assembly was still under lock and key while the Clerk of the house, Mohammed Kagara said he was yet to be served the court order.
The governor had on Wednesday exonerated himself from the crisis ridden State House of Assembly saying that the face-off “is internal”.
He also said he was not targeted for impeachment by the crisis that erupted in the assembly on Monday, which led to the sacking of the house principal officers including the Speaker Adamu Usman said happenings the house has nothing to do with him.
The governor in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Israel Ebije, said speculation of impeachment moves against him by the assembly was false and should be treated as such.
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