Niger Court upholds removal of Royal Father in Lapai LG

From Yakubu Mustapha Minna

A High Court sitting in Minna has upheld the removal and dismissal of the Amana of Kakanda, the village head of Muye in Lapai local government of Niger state, Alhaji Abdulkadir Muhammad Maigari from office.
The presiding Judge of the court, Justice Maimuna A. Abubakar has also ordered the payment of salary arrears due to the royal father during his suspension before his dismissal from office by government.
The village head was dismissed by government in 2021 after accusing him of gross insubordination by blowing of royal trumpets during official outings.
He however approached the court in a suit filed by his counsels, N.A Tanko and A. N. Musu praying the court to declare his dismissal illegal, null and void.
The plaintiffs including some traditional title holders and Chief Imam of Muye sought eight reliefs of the court to reinstall him and effect payment of his withheld salary arrears.
The plaintiffs also prayed for the court declarations that the royal father is the Amana of Kakanda/ village head of Muye and cannot be punished/ sanctioned for acts or omissions not provided for in law and that he was not given fair hearing before his dismissal. These reliefs were also refused by the court
The governor of Niger State, Lapai Local Government council, Etsu Lapai Alhaji Umaru Bago III and two others were listed as defendants in the matter.
In a ruling delivered on 31st October, 2023, the judge dismissed seven reliefs out of 8 reliefs sought by the plaintiffs but granted relief no.3 which was in favour of payment of the royal father’s withheld salary arrears during his suspension before final dismissal.
Justice Maimuna Abubakar held that the first plaintiff was given fair hearing before his dismissal having been queried on two different times and the queries were answered while he also presented documents in defence to the committee.