Plateau Assembly crisis: Former Deputy speaker loses case

Former Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, John Bull Shakarau, on Thursday lost his bid to return to his position.

This follows a court declaration that Hon. Joyce Lohya Ramnap remains the duly elected Deputy Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly.

Shekarau had filed a suit before High Court 1 in Jos challenging his impeachment as the deputy speaker.

Shekarau’s grouse was that the allegations leveled against him that led to his suspension by the House does not warrant it because due process was not followed by the House and the 13 members that took the decision.

He submitted that his inability to be given a fair hearing was tantamount to abuse of his fundamental rights, discredit to his personality and a denial of his constituency adequate representation.

He pointed out that at the meeting with the committee, the House raised five allegations against him bothering on a monthly contribution by the House members, the issue of Dadin Kowa Micro Finance Bank, approvals on three vouchers, as well as the identity of a person in a picture carrying a placard during a demonstration.

He said he responded adequately to the queries raised.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, the Chief Judge of Plateau State, Justice Pius Damulak, maintained that Shekarau still remain impeached as the deputy speaker of the seventh Assembly following the delay in filing his suit.

Justice Damulak stressed that counsel to House, Solomon Umoh (SAN), insisted that the appellant’s facts contained in the affidavit in the originating summons was satisfactory for him to elicit credible evidences in favour of his client.

The counsel to the appellant, Boniface Ngyo, said the court has the right to entertain the suit if its so wishes because of the technicality involved.

Ngyo submitted that the evidences contained in the affidavit in the originating summon was sufficient for the case to go in favor of his client.

Damulak, however, granted the application of that Shekarau should return to the House as a member.

Shortly after the judgment, Shekarau said he has accepted the court verdict in good faith.

He said: “I am not preparing for any further action but eyeing bigger office now.”