By Amos Tauna
A High Court sitting in Zaria, northern Nigeria Tuesday, granted an order of interim injunction restraining Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna State from taking any step to fill the offices of District and Village heads within their domains pending the hearing and determination of Motion on Notice.
Others restrained from taking such actions include the Attorney General of Kaduna State, Jaafaru Ibrahim Sani (Commissioner Kaduna Ministry of local government affairs), Kaduna State council of Emirs and Chiefs, Zazzau Emirate council, Kaduna State House of Assembly, either by themselves or via their agents, servants and privies or anyone, committee, Task Force, Ministry or whosoever described acting on the instructions or directives of the defendants from acting on the directives contained in the letters.
Similarly, an order of interim injunction was granted directing the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante prior to issuance of letters MLG/CA/45/427 and MLG/CA/45/462 dated 7th June, 2017 and 12th June 2017 respectively by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
An order was also granted restraining the 5th Defendant/respondent from making any recommendation pursuant to the said letters/circulars herein mentioned and restraining the 1st-3rd defendants/respondents from acting on any such recommendations if any has been made pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.
Alhaji Lawal Iro (Magajin Mallam Zazzau Hakimin Samaru) Alhaji Falalu Umaru (Maharin Zazzau Hakimin Dutsen Abba and Alhaji Isah Suleiman (Danmalikin Zazzau Hakimin Nassarawan Doya) who are plaintiffs in the suit No. KDH/Z/144/2017 suing for themselves and on behalf of the duly appointed District Heads whose positions are illegally threatened by the defendants had prayed for an order of Interim Injunction restraining the defendants/respondents either by themselves or via their agents, servants and privies or any one, committee, task force, ministry or whosoever described acting on the instructions or directives of the defendants from acting on the directives contained in the letters and or circulars or take any step whatsoever to fill the offices of District and Village Heads within their domains pending the hearing and determination of Motion on Notice.
The plaintiffs also prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents directing the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante prior to issuance of letters MLG/CA/45/427 and MLG/CA/45/462 dated 7th June, 2017 and 12th June 2017 respectively by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice.
The plaintiffs also sought for an order of interim injunction directing the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante prior to issuance of letters MLG/CA/45/427 and MLG/CA/45/462 dated 7th June, 2017 and 12th June 2017 respectively by the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.
According to the presiding judge, Justice B. F Zubairu , the restraining order which was signed by himself also signed by the Registrar Buhari Aliyu Esq dated the 28th day of June, 2017 was based on the 24 paragraphs affidavit in support of the motion paper by Mr. Yemi S. Adekunle with W. U. Abdul Azeez Esq and S. Garba Esq counsel for the Applicants.
A High Court sitting in Kafanchan had earlier given a restraining order in a similar suit by another plaintiffs .
Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to Wednesday 5th, July 2017 for hearing of the Motion on Notice.
