Suntai Vs State Assembly: Battle Over Who Controls Taraba Begins

The legal tussle between ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai and the Deputy Governor  Garba Umar, over who possesses the constitutional power to preside over the affairs of Taraba State government, yesterday began  before the State High Court in Jalingo.

Gov. Suntai had earlier filed a suit against the Speaker, Haruna Tsokwa and 15 other lawmakers for stopping him from resuming duty, after returning from a 10-month medical trip in German and United States hospitals,

Though Suntai had urged the court  to assume jurisdiction and make a pronouncement  declaring him as the sitting governor  of the state on the grounds of the letter he wrote to the state House of Assembly, the state Assembly urged the  court to dismiss the matter.
In the proceeding, the governor’s chief attorney, Alex Izinyon, SAN, called for a stand-down but the judge, Hon. Justice Ali Ibrahim Andeyangtso overruled when Counsel to the first defendant (Speaker Haruna Tsokwa), Micah Musa Esq moved a motion for adjournment.

Consequently, Justice Ali I. Andeyantso, after listening to all the parties adjourned the matter to September 17, 2013, to enable them be served the remaining processes.

A serving member of the National Assembly, Senator Bwacha, who spoke with journalists in Abuja, stated yesterday that he was however not surprised by the acting governor’s attitude, saying the monumental “sins” he committed in the last 10 months while the governor was receiving medical attention abroad were the reasons he did not want to revert to his position so that he would not be exposed.
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Posted in: Politics