Supreme Court Sacks Taraba Senator, Orders Return Of Salaries
The Supreme Court on Friday sacked the Senator representing Taraba North in the Senate, Abubakar Danladi and asked him to return all salaries he had collected before his sack.
Danladi was ordered to refund all salaries and allowances he received within 90 days.
Mr. Danladi was sacked by the Supreme Court on the same day a member of the House of Representatives from Benue state, Herman Hembe, was also sacked by the apex court.
The court also declared Alhaji Shuaibu Isa Lau, the rightful senator to represent the constituency. Both Danladi and Isa Lau are members of the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP).
The Supreme Court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate issued to Danladi and issue a fresh certificate of return to Lau.
The order was contained in the judgement of the court on the appeal filed by Lau. Lau had challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal that upturned his victory during the primary elections, claiming that he was wrongfully substituted.
The apex court in the unanimous judgment of a five-member panel held that the appellant had the right to participate in elections just like any other candidate in the primary election.
The court added that if Lau felt that his right was infringed upon, he had the right to approach the court. “From the totality of the appeal before this court, all the issues are resolved in favour of the appellant.
“His substitution at the primary election is null and void, since the appellant scored the highest number of votes. Hence, the only option is to declare the appellant as the winner of primary election.
“This court hereby orders that the appellant be issued with the certificate of return and the respondent should immediately vacate the seat.
“He should return to the National Assembly, all salaries and allowances received as a senator within 90 days”.
