Updated: Court restrains Zamfara assembly from impeaching deputy governor

The Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, restrained the Zamfara House of Assembly from impeaching the Deputy Governor of the state, Mahdi Gusau.

The presiding Judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, gave the order while ruling on an ex-parte motion brought by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), through its Lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN.

The ex-parte is with the suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/650/2021.

Though Governor. Bello Matawalle of Zamfara recently defected from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), his deputy, Gusau, did not.

The lawmakers in the state had threatened to impeach Gusau over activities they considered to be a threat to the security in the state in which they claimed he was involved.

At the resumed hearing, after ordering the defendants to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice, Egwuatu also stopped the house from impeaching its other members who are still in the opposition party (PDP).

Subsequently, he has directed the plaintiff to serve all the defendants in the suit before Friday.

The matter was thereafter adjourned till July 23 for a hearing of the motion on notice.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, APC, Senate President, Speaker of House of Representatives, Speaker of Zamfara House of Assembly, Governor Matawalle, and Chief Judge of Zamfara are 1st to 7th defendants respectively.

The PDP, through its lawyer, had urged the court to grant its prayer in the interest of justice.
The party said the court had the inherent power to grant the order.

“This is the only place we can run to, especially in a situation of chaos the state has found itself.”