By Suzan Edeh

Bauchi—A member of the House of Representatives, Salisu Zakari Ningi, has been dragged to court by a member of his constituency over his ineligibility to represent his constituency, having been allegedly dismissed from the Army.

Rep Salisu Zakari

Ningi represents Ningi/Warji federal constituency of Bauchi State in the House of Representatives.

The plaintiff, Shehu Jamilu, said he had evidence in 2007 that Zakari Ningi was in the Nigeria Army but allegedly abandoned his duty as a result of which a board of inquiry was set up and was subsequently removed from the employment of the Army.

Jamilu, who said he was a registered voter from the area, filed a suit at the Federal High Court Bauchi on March 23, 2015, through his counsel, Y. A Amos and ASdo Dauda and co, joining the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, as second defendant.

He is asking the court to determine whether Zakari who ran on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, did lied on oath that he was never dismissed from the public service of the federation when he filled the INEC nomination forms.

Jamilu also wanted the court to determine in the affirmative whether Zakari Ningi was disqualified from contesting the seat of Ningi/Warji federal constituency based on the false information he submitted to INEC.

He is, therefore, seeking the court to declare that the politician lied on oath and  for the court  to declare Zakari Ningi disqualified from contesting the seat of Ningi/Warji federal constituency in the last general election as a result of false information submitted to INEC.

He also sought an order disqualifying INEC from recognising Zakari Ningi as a candidate contesting the seat of the Ningi/Warji federal constituency in the last general election, having been disqualified.

When the case came up for hearing on Wednesday October 21, 2015, counsel to the plaintiff, Y. A. Amos, informed the court that they had filed a notice of change of counsel.

The new counsel, Mohammed Mahmoud Maidoki, asked for the court for time to study the case properly.
Counsel to the defendant, Omoreonye Morgans ,  in his response, observed that the notice of change of counsel was not brought to their attention earlier, adding that they had no objection to the change of counsel.

The court, presided over by Justice Mohammed, then adjourned the matter to  November 19, 2015, for further hearing.