Charges have been filed by Zamfara State Government at the Magistrate Court in Gusau against the eight suspended state lawmakers.
They are alleged to have unlawfully entered offices at the State House of Assembly in search of the mace to facilitate illegal plenary sessions.
The case was presented before Chief Magistrate Rukubatu Aliyu Kanoma.
Representatives of the State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice stated that the accused individuals forcibly gained entry into the Sergeant-at-Arms office and the Clerk’s office at the House of Assembly on February 22, 2024. They reportedly took unspecified valuable items and the mace.
The accused lawmakers were identified as Hon. Shamsudeen Hassan, Hon. Faruk Musa Dosara, Hon. Nasiru Abdullahi, Hon. Bashir Aliyu Gummi, Hon. Basiru Bello Bungudu, Hon. Amiru Ahmad Keta, Hon. Ibrahim T. Tukur, and Hon. Bashiru Abubakar.
According to the Attorney General, the charges are in accordance with sections 122 (A) and 123(1) (C) of the Zamfara State administration of criminal justice LAW-2023.
“The complainants request a warrant of arrest or criminal summons to be issued against the defendants,” he declared.
Defense counsels for the first three defendants, Ibrahim Ali, and for the fourth to seventh defendants, Daniel Peter, objected, citing the court’s lack of jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned to May 30, 2024, for the court to make a decision on its jurisdiction.