Writing By Ali Muhammad Rabiu ; Editing By Godwin Duru
A Kwara State Revenue Court , siting in Ilorin, presided over by Justice Muritala Folorunsho has declared the suspension of member representing Edu State Constituency , Saba Yisa Gideon by the Kwara State House of Assembly as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.
The state House of Assembly had on December 18 last year suspended the lawmaker for three months over alleged recording proceedings of a meeting of the House without consent and forwarded same to an unauthorized persons.
Dissatisfied by his suspension, the embattled lawmaker dragged the Speaker, the House of Assembly and other (respondents) to court to seek redress.
Delivering his judgement, Justice Muritala Folorunsho said the suspension of the applicant by the respondents through motion without notice was a procedural breach of his rights.
Justice Folorunsho declare that the purported suspension of the applicant from the performance of his legislative duties as elected representative of Edu state Constituency of the Kwara state House of Assembly (KWHA) by the respondents for three months on the alleged offence is not covered by the provision of Legislative Houses, Powers and Privilege Act Item 17 Order 4, Rule 15 of the rules of Kwara state House of Assembly 2019.
The court held that the suspension is unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal and null and void and of no legal effect.
The court granted injunction restraining the respondents- their agents, servants, privies and or any person on the authority of and or under the instructions of the respondents from giving effect to the purported suspension of the applicant or stopping or resisting or in any manner or way interfering with the applicant in the performance of his legislative duties, functions and responsibilities in the state House of Assembly.
Justice Folorunsho directed the respondents to pay and settle all the accrued salaries and entitlements due and payable to the applicant as a member and elected representative of Edu State Constituency in the state House of Assembly for any period that the respondents made it impossible for the applicant to discharge his parliament duties and responsibilities.
ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
