Court Reserves Judgment Against Four Kaduna Lawmakers-Elect over Falsification of Document
By Alex Uangbaoje Kaduna
The case against four Kaduna elected Lawmakers took a dramatic turn, as a Federal High Court sitting Kaduna adjourned for judgment on a day to be communicated to the parties.
The Lawmakers elect, Shehu Balarebe, Bala Umar, Yusuf Ibrahim and Rilwanu Aminu were dragged before the high court by one Honourable Ali Abu and Honourable Abdullahi Ibrahim Fatika, who are also members of All Progressives Congress (APC), the platform on which the four of them were elected for alleged falsification of documents.
Addressing the Court, counsel to the plaintiff Bello Ibrahim and Co, stated that the originating summon was brought in view of section 31 (2), (5) and (6) of the electoral law, 2010 (as amended).
The leading counsel, Bello Ibrahim ESQ, said the information in the nomination forms and the affidavit submitted by the defendants to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), through the APC are false.
He therefore called for their disqualification in view of the above.
Speaking to newsmen immediately after the adjournment, Barrister Ibrahim, said his learned colleague, Barrister Suleiman Shuiabu ESQ, who is counsel to the defendants, tries to mislead the Court that the case is a criminal case which was brought under civil matter.
He explained that section 31 (2) (5) and (6) clearly defines falsification of document and that it is quite different from forgery.
Barrister Ibrahim, therefore called on the court to grant their prayers and disqualify the four defendants.
However, Suleiman Shuaibu, the defence counsel, said the court has no jurisdiction to hear the case before it, and has filed eight paragraph affidavit in support of his argument.
He added that the affidavit filed by the defendant was attested to by a legal practitioner who did not append his stamp on the document.
He therefore called on the court to dismiss the suit with punitive cost.
In a sharp reaction, Barrister Ibrahim, said the legal practitioner who attested to the document only did that as a witness not as a legal practitioner.
The four defendants had been elected to represent Giwa east, Giwa west and Kakangi Kaduna State House of Assembly, while the fourth defendant was elected to represent Giwa/Birni Gwari Federal Constituency of Kaduna State.
