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Eight suspended Zamfara lawmakers drag Speaker, others to court

The eight suspended members of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, feeling aggrieved, have initiated legal action by filing a suit challenging their suspension at the Federal High Court sitting in Gusau, the state capital.

These lawmakers contest the suspension, alleging a violation of their constitutional rights to liberty, human dignity, fair hearing, and the lawful possession of their property without due process.

The lawsuit was directed against seven respondents, including the Zamfara State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, the Clerk of the House, the Commissioner of Police, and the Department of State Security Services (DSS) in the state.

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However, during the hearing at the Federal High Court in Gusau today, complaints arose from the registry regarding some respondents, such as the police, Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), among others, who were reportedly not served in the state.

Ibrahim Ali, Counsel to the suspended Zamfara lawmakers sought for a date to begin hearing of the matter and enable them to serve the other respondent’s in the state.

Justice Aminu Bappah, the presiding Judge granted the motion and adjourned the case to April 29 for a hearing to enable and serve the respondents, who are yet to be served.

In the filed case, Ibrahim Ali, the Counsel to the aggrieved eight lawmakers, asserted that his clients allege collusion between the Speaker and various security agencies including the Nigerian Police, Department of State Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

They claim that these entities have initiated attempts to arrest and prosecute them.

This action is purportedly based on the accusation that 17 members of the State Assembly convened at the Zamfara State House of Assembly and held a plenary session on February 22, within the state premises.

TheWitness