A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Funtua, Katsina state has ordered the Senator representing Katsina South senatorial zone, Sen. Bello Mandiya, to appear before it or risk bench warrant.
Counsel to the complainant, Barrister Lawal Amah disclosed this in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna on Thursday.
He said that Chief Magistrate, Abdu Ladan, gave the order while delivering ruling whether the Attorney General of Katsina state has the constitutional right to take over a case of criminal complaint of false information and forgery filed against the Senator
The Chief Magistrate further ruled that “while the Attorney General of Katsina state has Constitutional right to take over a case of criminal complaint there is nobody occupying the position now hence the direct criminal complaint must go on.
“The Judge then ordered that a fresh summon be served on Senator Bello Mandiya before the next day of hearing, June 24, 2019.”
It will be recalled that Barrister Lawal Amah in a suit No-CMC/FT/92DC/19 sought for a criminal summons to be issued against the defendant who contested and won the Katsina South (Funtua Zone) Senatorial seat under the platform of APC.
The plaintiff alleged that “the defendant in filling form CF001 of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) more particularly at page three paragraph D(1) stated that he voluntarily retired from the civil service in 2001 and no more and the above declaration was made under Oath.
“While it is a fact that the defendant is the Chief of Staff at Government House, Katsina. As can be seen from his pay slip for the month of February, 2019 which shows that the defendant contested and won the election while under the employment of Katsina state government.
“It is based on this that a complaint of false information contrary to the section 140 and forgery contrary to section 364 all of the penal code is lodged against the defendant.”
The matter has been adjourned to June 24, 2019, for mention.
