Court case stalls Reps hearing on takeover of Benue, Zamfara parliaments

Mr Laori said the adjournment became necessary as the committee had been served with court documents, notifying it that the matter is currently in court.

News Agency of Nigeria • May 15, 2025

Benue and Zamfara assembly complexes

The House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions has adjourned the hearing in a petition seeking the National Assembly to take over Benue and Zamfara parliaments until May 28.

The committee chair, Bitrus Laori (PDP-Adamawa), stated this at the resumption of the hearing on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Laori said the adjournment became necessary as the committee had been served with court documents, notifying it that the matter is currently in court.

Mr Laori said the suit filed on May 5, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Makurdi Division, was adjourned until May 19.

The chairman also said the leadership of the Benue State House of Assembly had also written a letter to the Senate and House of Representatives Benue Caucuses seeking an interaction over the matter.

“In view of the court processes and the request of the Benue State House of Assembly leadership seeking to dialogue with Senate and House of Representatives caucuses, the decision to continue sitting on the petition or not will be determined on the next adjourned date, May 28,” he said.

In Benue, the parliament suspended 13 lawmakers for three months over their alleged opposition to removing the chief judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese.

The judge was accused of gross misconduct and corruption, sparking controversy and division within the parliament.

While in Zamfara, the political crisis deepened in February 2024 when the Assembly suspended ten lawmakers. Of the 10 suspended lawmakers for allegedly convening an illegal plenary session, four are from the All Progressives Congress and six from the Peoples Democratic Party.

The situation in Zamfara has since escalated into a leadership tussle, with two lawmakers, Bilyaminu Moriki and Bashar Gummi, laying claim to the speakership.

The Gummi-led faction reportedly held a parallel sitting during which they purportedly impeached Mr Moriki.

In response, the Moriki-led assembly suspended 10 members aligned with Mr Gummi, labelling the impeachment as invalid and accusing the group of conducting an illegal session.

These crises form the basis of the petitions before the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.

(NAN)

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