Supreme Court sacks Senator Danladi, Rep Hembe
The Supreme Court yesterday ordered Alhaji Sani Abubakar Danladi to vacate his seat as the senator representing Taraba North Senatorial District of Taraba State and refund to the National Assembly within 90 days, all the money he had so far collected by way of salaries and allowances.
The court also ordered INEC to issue a certificate of return to Isah Shuaibu, the appellant.
In a lead judgment delivered by Justice Amina Adamu Augie, the apex court urged political parties to play by the rules in the nomination of candidates.
In another judgment, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen, declared that Mrs. Dorathy Mato was the winner of the primary election of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with respect to Vandeikya/ Konshisha Federal Constituency of Benue State held from December 7-10, 2014 and the winner of the election on March 28, 2015.
Onnoghen then ordered INEC to immediately withdraw the certificate of return issued to Herman Hembe and issue same to Mrs. Dorathy Mato, the appellant.
The CJN also ordered the Speaker of the House of Representatives or the Clerk of the House to swear in Mrs. Dorathy Mato as the member representing Vandeikya/ Konshisha Federal Constituency of Benue State forthwith.
Herman Hembe was also ordered to refund to the National Assembly within 90 days, all the money he had so far collected by way of salaries, allowances or emoluments.
He was further ordered to pay N200, 000 as costs to Mrs. Dorathy Mato and another N500, 000.
In another judgment, the CJN set aside the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Makurdi and held that Mr. Ire Matthew Owuru was the rightful winner of the PDP primary election held on November 2014, having scored the highest number of votes cast at the primary for the House of Assembly election in Oju 11 State Constituency of Benue State. According to the CJN, forwarding Mr. Ire Owuru’s name to INEC by the PDP for the House of Assembly election was proper and valid.