Hon. Garba Shede who represented Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency of Taraba State in the House of Representatives in the 8th National Assembly has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Domestic Affairs, Sarki Abba Abdulkadir has blocked him from being sworn in.
Shede recontested the 2019 election with the present occupant, Hon. Mubarak Gambo which became a subject of litigation and after a tedious legal process, Hon. Chede won and got a Court order to be sworn in.
The ex-lawmaker speaking in an interview with journalists in Abuja, explained how the aide connived with the Speaker of the House, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila to make him disobey Court order despite persuasion from some members of the House.
He said: “The Federal High Court has granted an order that I should be sworn in as a member representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency, but I am yet to be sworn in. Though the order is the order of mandamus which means the order mandates the Speaker to swear me in.
“But when I brought the order, I handed it over to Mr. Speaker and after he read the order, the Speaker said there is somebody called Sarki Abba who is a Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs in the presidency who has an interest on the current person.
“The S.A on Domestic Affairs equally told Mr Speaker that the current occupant has gone to appeal the judgement and he also said it is the culture of the House to shield a seating member even if there is Court order. It is not automatic to swear in a new member at that point.”
Hon. Shede further told journalists that the House of Reps Minority leader and other members persuaded the Speaker to respect Court order, but, he continue to decline.
Sarki Abba Abdulkadir
He continued: “The Minority leader of the House, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) attacked him and told him to obey Court order. To my surprise, a lawmaker is so adamant to the ruling of Court.
“I am surprised that the Speaker disobeyed Court judgement and I doubt much how he will make law and disobey the law at the same time.
Speaking on what to do, he said, “now we are going back to court to seek another directive. The surprising thing is that Mr. Speaker is a lawyer and he know the implication. All I know is the selfishness, we are talking of the Court order; we are talking of the law; law supercedes every individual.
“The story of Sarki Abba, I am not the only one he told. He told many people that Sarki Abba at the presidency is interested in the member occupying my office illegally.
“Of course, the action of the Speaker is enough to give opposition a chance to take over because if the Speaker that is our head in APC can not respect the Court order, that is total destruction.”
He further revealed that the Attorney-General of the Federation has written the Speaker on the position of Court advising him to swear me in as the member, but he chose to obey Buhari’s aide than the judiciary.
“The Attorney-General of the Federation who is the law officer of the Federation wrote him first that he should swear in Hon. Garba Shedi and even the legal department of the National Assembly.
“He wrote Mr. Speaker to swear me in. But all, he said was that I should go and bring Court order he change as a chameleon. I still insist that there is someone called Sarki Abba. He made the statement in the presence of many people.
“So all my fate now is in Court for another mandate in him. If the Speaker chose to disobey the Court order. Let’s see how it goes.
“But, this offence, although I am not a lawyer, this may land him in prison. I am assuring my supporters that we are going to get the victory against the Speaker’s will.
He further pointed out how the House leader intervened, but was shunned, wondering whether he has been promised that his political godfather, Ahmed Bola Tinubu would be given presidency in 2023 that was making him to obey few elements in the executive rather the institution of the Judiciary.
“I met the house leader, Hon. Ado Doguwa over the issue and in my presence, Ado Doguwa text him. He called him and told him that Hon. Garba is our member and even the other person did not participate in the primary, even our head boy, Hon. Mutari Betara also contributed that he should swear me in and he refused.
“Also, one of our leader, Hon. James Faleke told him to respect Court order, he refused and telling him that there is one, S.A, to the presidency called Sarki Abba who is interested in the guy occupying the seat and Faleke was surprised and asked what concerns the President’s Special Assistant with the National Assembly.
“To me, I am surprised, may be they are telling him that they will give him the President of this country and that’s why he is obeying their instruction.”
