A Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has restrained the House of Assembly and its agents from investigating and suspending the Saheed Popoola (Balogun/Ojomu).
Popoola is the only member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) left in the House after most of his colleagues defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The House launched a probe into the alleged falsification of certificate and issuance of dud cheque against Popoola, who approached the court to challenge the decision of the House.
His lawyer Salman Jawondo filed a-32 paragraph affidavit, praying the court to stop the Speaker and other lawmakers from suspending him.
According to him, the defendants have no power to suspend the claimant, truncate and/or interfere with the claimantโs tenure and performance based on criminal allegations of forgery of educational qualifications submitted by the claimant.
Justice T.S Umar after hearing the motion, said โthe defendants/respondents and or any person or group of persons acting on their behalf are hereby restrained from investigating, inquiring into, determining and or taking any step as legislative house on criminal allegations of forgery of educational qualification(s) submitted by the claimant for election and issuance of dud/bounced cheques made against the claimant.
โThe defendants/respondents are hereby restrained from suspending the claimant/applicant and or truncating and or any way interfering with claimant/applicantโs tenure and performance, and enjoyment of his legislative functions and duties pertaining to his office.โ
He thereafter adjourned the case till August 17.
Bauchi, Katsina senators-elect get Certificates of Return The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has issued Certificates of Return to senators-elect Ahmad Kaita, (APC โ Katsina North) and Lawal Yahaya Gumau (APC, Bauchi South), following their success in last Saturdayโs by-elections.
A statement yesterday by INECโs Director of Publicity and Voter Education, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said both men won in their respective constituencies.
Kaita, who lauded INEC for conducting a credible election, said: โEven as I experienced some difficulties at getting the impressions of my PVC picked by the Card Reader, yet I believe INEC has done well.โ
Gumau described the election as equal to none in terms of level of preparations and conduct of INEC officials.
He urged the people to continue to support INEC to conduct credible elections.
The by-elections were conducted to fill the vacancies created by the deaths of the former occupants of the seats.
