28th June, 2010
Garba Gadi, the impeached deputy governor of Bauchi State who was reinstated to office courtesy following a judgment of the High Court presided over by Justice Haruna Tsammami last Friday has resumed office, P.M.NEWS gathered this morning.
It was gathered that Gadi resumed office as early as 7 O’ clock today in what is generally regarded as a move to take the Yuguda-led administration by surprise.
P.M.NEWS gathered that some well wishers and members of his political party, the All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP have been trooping to the office to congratulate the reinstated deputy governor. This is in spite of the claim yesterday by the Bauchi State government that it has filed an appeal against the judgment at Jos Division of Court of Appeal.
Gadi told journalists this morning that he is not aware of any appeal filed againt his return to the office by the Bauchi State Government. However, there was heavy police presence around Bauchi this morning to prevent breakdown of law and order.
Justice Haruna, while ruling over the case instituted against his removal by Gadi last year, declared that “The removal of the plaintiff (Mohammed Gadi) from office by the Bauchi State House of Assembly on August 13, 2009 based on the recommendation of the report of the seven-man panel when the matter was still pending in court is unconstitutional and therefore null and void.â€
The judge consequently ordered that Gadi should be reinstated into office and all allowances due to him from the time he was removed as Deputy Governor be paid to him.
The judge also ordered Babayo Garba Gamawa, the former Speaker of Bauchi State House of Assembly who presided over the removal of Gadi from office and has been elevated to the office of Deputy Governor to vacate the office.
Trouble began for Gadi last year following his refusal to follow Governor Isa Yuguda and members of the State House of Assembly to decamp to People’s Democratic Party from the ANPP on whose platform they were elected into office.
—Oluokun Ayorinde