Mr. Salisu Zuru, the Chairman-elect of National Assembly Legislative Aides’ Forum has been dragged to Court by Mr. Joshua Okah, who is Senior Legislative Aide to a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ben Igbakpa, for allegedly receiving double salaries while he holds two public offices.
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It was alleged that Zuru has been a member of the board of the National Orientation Agency and without quitting the job, he took another appointment as SLA to Senator Sahabi Ya’u representing Zamfara North.
This is following the dissatisfaction with the emergence of Zuru as the Chairman in the concluded elections into the Forum, stating that the chairmanship election was void and ought to be nullified, adding that a fresh election should be conducted for the remaining chairmanship candidates.
This is vided a suit instituted in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on 26th day of October, 2020, with suit number : FCT/HC/BW/CV/311/20.
The Claimant tells the Court that “The 1st defendant is a Senior Legislative Aide appointed by the National Assembly Service Commission on the recommendation of Senator Alhaji Ya’u Sahabi on the 27th of August, 2019, and also currently a member of the Board of National Orientation Agency appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 29th of December, 2017. Sequel to the above, he has been receiving emoluments from both offices and the 1st defendant is a public servant and bound by the extent provisions of the Public Service Rules, 2009.
“It is not lawful for the 1st defendant to receive and/or be paid emoluments in respect of his office as Senior Legislative Aide appointed by the National Assembly Service Commission and at the same time as a member of the Board of National Orientation Agency appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The 1st defendant, who was elected as Chairman of the NASSLAF at the delegates’ election held on 16th October, 2020, has put himself in a position where his personal interest as Senior Legislative Aide appointed by the National Assembly Service Commission conflicts with his duties and responsibilities as a member of the Board of National Orientation Agency appointed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and, therefore, he is, in the eye of the law, not eligible to participate and/or contest in the NASSLAF Election 2020.”
The plaintiff, in the affidavit, deposed that upon appointment by the NASC, all legislative aides, as part of their conditions for appointment, are entitled to emoluments such as salaries, allowances’ payment of first 28 days in lieu of accommodation upon assumption of duty, severance gratuity at the rate of 300 per cent of annual basic salary for the completion of each tenure, and trainings among others.
He stated that as at the time Zuru contested the NASSLAF election, he remained a member of the NOA board. He also attached a copy of a letter from the Office of the Director-General of the NOA, dated 19th day of October, 2020, confirming the 1st defendant’s membership of the present board of the agency, as well as a photograph taken by the board’s members on 5th day of April, 2018.
“That the 1st defendant deliberately refused, failed and/or neglected to disclose the above stated facts of his membership of the board of NOA to the 2nd to 13th defendants during screening all in his desperation for power. That had the 1st defendant disclosed the facts under reference, he would not have been screened and/or cleared to contest for the NASSLAF chairmanship election.
“That the NOA is in Category ‘B’ under the categorisation of board of federal parastatals. Since inauguration of the board since 2008 to date, the 1st defendant, being a member, has sat four times and the fifth meeting in 2020 was done virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 1st defendant has been receiving emoluments from the agency”, he said.
He seeks an order of Court mandating Zuru to step aside as NASSLAF’s chairman-elect and/or substantive chairman, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
In addition, he prays the Court for an Interim injunction restraining the 2nd to 13th respondents, as well as the Clerk to the National Assembly, Olatunde Ojo, from “acting on or taking further steps in respect of the chairmanship election of NASSLAF held on 16th October, 2020, and/or accepting or giving any further recognition to the 1st defendant/respondent (Zuru) as the NASSLAF chairman-elect or substantive chairman or otherwise however called and/or issuing the 1st defendant/respondent a fresh Certificate of Return…”
The defendants are legislative aides who took different roles in the conduct of the election, they are Idris Ejima Aruwa, Mon-Charles Egbo, Olushola Olugbani, Oyorokoto Ogheneruemu, Ndudi Nwagbara, Jackson Collins Ette, Haruna Abdullahi Kure, Bamidele Ajibola, Garbriel Garba Silas, Umar Farouk Ahmed, Yakubu Shano Garba and Okwudili Nwankino.
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