By Mohammed Munirat Nasir (Zamfara State Correspondent)
The Zamfara State High Court II holden in Gusau today dismissed the suit by five removed local government council chairmen challenging their removal by governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle.
Delivering his ruling, the Presiding Judge, Justice Bello Mohammed Shinkafi citing relevant sections of the law dismissed the suit by the former chairmen who approved the court seeking reinstatement as chairmen of their respective local government councils.
Justice Shinkafi ruled that the filling of multiple suits in different courts by same plaintiffs seeking same reliefs is a gross abuse of judicial process.
"Fling multiple suits by same plaintiffs in different courts of similar jurisdiction seeking the same reliefs is a gross violation of court proceedings as such, the case is hereby dismissed," he ruled.
Reacting to the judgment, the counsel to the defendants and the Director of Litigation, Zamfara State Ministry of Justice, Barrister Surajo Abdullahi described the ruling as a victory to the rule of law.
He said the judgment will serve as a deterrent to counsels to avoid entering same suits in different courts at same time.
In his reaction the counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Surajo Garba said he was satisfied with the decision of the court.
He confirmed that the same suits are in other courts.
It will be recalled that former chairman of Gusau local government council, Alhaji Babangida Abdullahi and four other chairmen namely Alhaji Dandare Dakko, Alhaji Sanusi Sarki, Alhaji Sani Galadi, Alhaji Lawali Marafa of Bakura, Gummi, Shinkafi and Talata Mafara local areas respectively had filed a suit at the Zamfara State High Court, challenging their removal as chairmen of their local government councils.
It will be also be recalled that following a resolution of the Zamfara State House of Assembly, governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle on 5th June, removed the local government council chairmen.
The chairmen were removed over allegation of gross misappropriation and the lack of curbing of insecurity in their respective local government area. NNL.
