The High Court of Justice sitting ‎in Zaria, Kaduna State, has granted an order of interim injunction restraining Governor Nasir El-Rufai, the Attorney-General of Kaduna State, Jaafaru Ibrahim Sani (Commissioner, Kaduna Ministry of Local Government Affairs), Kaduna State Council of Emirs and Chiefs, Zazzau Emirate Council from sacking district heads.

The court also restrained the House of Assembly, either by themselves or via their agents, servants and privies or any one, committee, task force, ministry or howsoever described, acting on the instructions or directives of the defendants, from acting on the directives contained in the letters and or circulars or take any step whatsoever to fill the offices of district and village heads within their domains, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Similarly, an order of interim injunction was also granted directing the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante prior to issuance of letters MLG/CA/45/427 and MLG/ CA/45/462 dated June 7 and June 12, respectively by the first, second and third defendants pending the hearing ‎and determination of the motion on notice. An order was also granted restraining the fifth defendant/respondent from making any recommendation pursuant to the said letters/circulars herein mentioned and restraining the first – third defendants/respondents from acting on any such recommendations if any has been made pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

Alhaji Lawal Iro (Magajin Mallam Zazzau Hakimin Samaru), Alhaji Falalu Umaru (Maharin Zazzau, Hakimin Dutsen Abba and Alhaji Isah Suleiman (Danmalikin Zazzau Hakimin Nassarawan Doya), who are plaintiffs in the Suit No. KDH/Z/144/2017 suing for themselves and on behalf of the duly appointed district heads whose positions are illegally threatened by the defendants, had prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents either by themselves or via their agents, servants and privies or any one, committee, task force, ministry or howsoever described acting on the instructions or directives of the defendants from acting on the directives contained in the letters and or circulars or take any step whatsoever to fill the offices of district and village heads within their domains pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The plaintiffs also prayed for an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants/respondents directing the parties to the suit to maintain status quo ante prior to the issuance of letters MLG/ CA/45/427 and MLG/CA/45/462 dated June7 and June 12 respectively by the first, second and third defendants pending the hearing ‎and determination of the motion on notice. The plaintiffs also sought for an order of interim injunction directing the parties to the suit to maintain the status quo ante prior to issuance of letters MLG/CA/45/427 and MLG/ CA/45/462 dated June 7 and June 12 respectively by the first, second and third defendants pending the hearing ‎and determination of the motion on notice already filed.

According to the Presiding Judge, B. F Zubairu, the restraining order, which was signed by himself and the Registrar, Buhari Aliyu, dated the June 28 was based on the 24-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion paper by Yemi S. Adekunle with W. U Abdul Azeez and S. Garba, Counsels for the applicants.

It would be recalled that another High Court sitting in Kafanchan had earlier given a restraining order in a similar suit by another plaintiff. Meanwhile, the matter has been adjourned to today, July 5 for hearing of the motion on notice. (Nigerian Pilot)

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