Court sacks Zamfara APC excos

ANasarawa State High Court sitting in Akwanga has voided the removal of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ahmed Aliyu Tijani.

Recently, the House of Assembly directed Governor Abdullahi Sule to relieve the SSG of his appointment over an alleged N284.5m unaccounted school projects fund when he was the commissioner for education.

Governor Sule complied and subsequently appointed Aliyu Mohammed Ubandoma as replacement.

But the state High Court sitting in Akwanga, yesterday presided over by Justice Mustapha Ramat, voided the recommendation of the House Assembly, describing it as illegal.

This was even as the court also voided the recommendation by the assembly that the former SSG should refund over N200 million reported to have been allegedly unaccounted for as school projects funds when he was the commissioner for education.

Justice Ramat ruled that Ahmed Aliyu Tijani was not given fair hearing by members of the Assembly, hence violating his fundamental human rights when deciding on allegations against him.

He said, “The court recognizes the provision of the constitution that gives the governor the power to hire and fire, but the former SSG was not given fair hearing by the House Assembly.”

Reacting to the judgment in an interview with our correspondent, the counsel to the plaintiff, Shikamma Kassam Sheltu, appreciated the judgment that the most important thing was that the court had voided the SSG’s removal as well as voiding his payment of over N200 million into the coffers of the Nasarawa State government.