Bauchi State House of Assembly yesterday appealed a ruling by the state high court ordering the re-instatement of Hon. Rifakatu Samson Dannah, who was suspended over her stand against the relocation of Tafawa-Balewa Council headquarters to Bununu.
It will be recalled that on May 30, 2013, state High Court I, presided over by the state Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Zango, ordered the House to re-instate the suspended lawmaker in line with section 109, 110 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, stating that as a lawmaker, she has the right to support or kick against any matter on the floor of the House.
Zango ruled that the suspension of the only female lawmaker was not only arbitrary, but was illegal and unconstitutional.
The House, according to the notice of the appeal made available to National Mirror, seeks for an order staying the execution of the judgement of the lower court pending hearing and determination of the appeal by the Court of Appeal in Jos.
The House also disagreed over the ruling of the lower court when the judge held that the embattled lawmaker was denied fair hearing, which contravenes section 35 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
The House expressed dismay that the lawmaker expressly admitted using offensive language on the appellants, yet the judge held that she was denied fair hearing.
The House's appeal, which was brought through the counsel to the Speaker, Mahmood Haruna Yakubu, urged the appellate court to set aside the decision of the state high court delivered on May 30, 2013 in suit No. BA/45M/13.
Reacting to the development, opposition parties' leader in the state, Mallam Sakis, described members of the House as 'illiterates' with no sense of internal democracy.
Sakis challenged them to maintain the rule of law even as he said that the country is in a democratic dispensation where things cannot be done with impunity.
National Mirror