Abubakar Danladi

The Supreme Court ordered Abubakar Danladi, representing Taraba North Senatorial District, to vacate his seat and refund all salaries and allowances he received within 90 days.

The court also declared Shuaibu Lau as the senator representing Taraba North.

The order was contained in the judgement of the court on the appeal filed by Mr. Lau.

Both Messrs. Danladi and Lau are members of the PDP.

Mr. Lau had challenged the decision of the Court of Appeal that upturned his victory during the primary elections. He claimed that he was wrongfully substituted.

The apex court also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw the certificate issued to Mr. Danladi and issue a fresh certificate of return to Lau.

The apex court in the unanimous judgment of a five-member panel held that the appellant had the right to participate just like any other candidate in the primary election.

The court added that if Mr. Lau felt that his right was infringed upon, he had the right to approach the court, Premium Times reports.

“From the totality of the appeal before this court, all the issues are resolved in favour of the appellant.

“His substitution at the primary election is null and void since the appellant scored the highest number of votes, the only option is to declare the appellant as the winner of primary election.

“This court hereby orders that the appellant be issued with the certificate of return and the respondent should immediately vacate the seat.

“He (Mr. Danladi) should return to the National Assembly, all salaries and allowances received as a senator within 90 days.

Meanwhile, Danladi was the first deputy governor who ran on the same ticket with former Governor Dantata Suntai. Became acting governor of Taraba state after Suntai took ill following a plane crash Abubakar Danladi representing Taraba north constituency in the Nigerian Senate has been sacked by the Supreme Court.

In 2014, he was reinstated as deputy governor of Taraba state by the Supreme Court after he was impeached in controversial circumstances. He was impeached on October 4, 2012 shortly before Mr. Suntai took ill after an air crash. He was accused of fraud and abuse of office.

After the Supreme Court nullified Danladi’s impeachment on November 21, 2014, he was cleared to replace Mr. Umar as acting governor. The court ruled that Danladi was denied fair hearing before he was impeached. Meanwhile, Danladi’s removal from the Senate comes shortly after the Supreme Court sacked Herman Hembe representing Vandeikya/Konshisha federal constituency in the House of Representatives. The apex court ruled that Herman Hembe of the All Progressives Congress (APC) be replaced by Mrs Dorathy Mato which it declared as the rightful winner of the APC party ticket for Vandikwa/ Konshisha federal constituency of Benue state.