By Abubakar Salihu
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has on Monday restrained the Zamfara State House of Assembly from its plans to impeach the Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Mahdi Gusau.
Justice Obiora Egwuatu issued the order while delivering a ruling in an ex-parte motion with suit number: FHC/ABJ/CS/650/2021 brought by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), through its Lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, SAN.
Barr. Onoja told the court that the House of Assembly and others were planning to impeach the Deputy Governor, who has refused to decamp to the All-Progressives Congress (APC), adding it was of utmost urgency that the court intervenes by granting an interim restraining injection against the fifth to seventh defendants – the Speaker, Governor and Chief Judge).
The Lawyer argued that if the impeachment is carried out without as being planned, no sufficient monetary compensation could assuage the impact, because it relates to a constitutionally recognized position with a stipulated tenure.
In a ruling, Justice Egwuatu said he was convinced it was a matter of extreme urgency, requiring the court’s intervention to preserve the res (subject of dispute).
The judge then ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing of a motion filed by the plaintiff.