The trial of Yakubu Sanda, the Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, was stalled on Thursday at a State High Court in Jos due to a demand for adherence to court rules. Sanda, along with eight other lawmakers, is charged with the illegal removal of Ayuba Abok, the lawmaker representing Jos East Constituency, from his position as Speaker on October 28, 2021. They are also accused of unlawfully assuming his position and conducting assembly sessions between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., in violation of the State Assembly’s rules and Section 92(2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. The prosecution includes eight other individuals, including the Plateau State Government, in a suit filed by Abok before Justice Ishaku Kunda.
The hearing was initially scheduled for October 23, 2022, but was canceled due to the death of one of the accused lawmakers. When the case was brought before the court on Thursday, Yakubu Sanda was absent and unrepresented by legal counsel. However, the claimant’s attorney, DA Dalong, expressed readiness to proceed with the case. The trial faced another delay when PG Chigero, the counsel for the Plateau State government, raised an objection, arguing that the application filed by the claimant violated Rule 2 of the court, which mandates that it be accompanied by the proposed amendment.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Kunda upheld the defense counsel’s objection and adjourned the matter until March 10, 2023.
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