The Presiding Judge of the Federal High Court (FHC) sitting in Abuja, Hon. Justice Obiora has refuted the news making the rounds that he has restrained Rt. Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi, and His Deputy, Hon. Jacob Kudu from parading themselves as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of Nasarawa State House of Assembly.
The Court, on Monday, said it has never granted such an order of restraining the Speaker Balarabe and his Deputy, Hon Kudu.
The Court was duly informed by SAN Matthew Bukaar, who stood in for the Speaker, the Clerk and Deputy Clerk of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and SAN I. M. Dikko Esq, who also stood for the Deputy Speaker and other Members of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly sued as Defendants in the case that Nasarawa State is peaceful and the legislative activities under the able leadership of Rt. Hon. Speaker Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi is peacefully going on for the good of the peace-loving People of Nasarawa State.
The Court emphasized the need to maintain peace and order in the State.
The matter was adjourned to 12/10/2023.
Speaking to journalists on the matter, Barr. M I Zanwa advised journalists as professionals to always verify information before going to the press to avoid misleading the public attributing the misinformation to the lack of regulations of social media.
“Journalists are known for investigative journalism through facts and accuracy but with the advent of social media some of them do copy and paste which is unprofessional because anybody can use social media at his comfort zone and write anything he wishes”
“I was shocked when I noticed a reputable media outfit like Arise TV went on air with the report without verifying”
” The issue is clear just as the SAN told the Presiding Judge, the State is peaceful and legislative activities are on smoothly under the Speaker Rt.Hon. Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi”
“The matter is simple, the Governor has directed the Clerk through proclamation to inaugurate the House and election was conducted by the Clerk with all machinery, the Clerk, the Maze and the Sergeant-at-arm including the date, the Governor’s letter did not give the venue and besides that is insignificant because Clerk has already sited security reasons and by the way, we all know, I am a former lawmaker Ministry For LG has been our alternative chamber all this while “
“In every situation, we have the doctrine of necessity, this is a democratic set up you can live a state to stay without legislators, and the assembly must exist, so the number of members at the house at the moment cannot deny the State from existing without legislators, the vacuum will be filled gradually as time progresses and the court is fully aware of that, those sworn in by the Clerk as demanded by the law are the lawmakers for now”, Zanwa noted.
Voice of Nigeria reports that High Court 1, Lafia has already stopped Ogazi from parading himself as Speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and that still stands.
N.O
