BAFARAWA SUES WAMAKKO OVER PENSION

Former Sokoto Sate Governor Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa has sued incumbent Governor Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko in the state High Court over non-payment of his monthly pension.

The state government, Governor Wamakko and the Attorney General are first, second and third defendants respectively in the case.   Bafarawa said in view of the fact that he was elected   as the executive governor of the state for two consecutive terms of eight years, he was entitled to monthly pension as a former governor, 'The Sokoto State Grant of Pension (Governor and Deputy Governor) Law No. 2 of 2003'.  In the originating Summon signed by Bafarawa's counsel, Emmanuel Toro, he wants the court to determine whether 'the defendants jointly and severally can justifiably refuse or delay the payment of the plaintiff's pensions for about 3 years despite repeated verbal and written demands by the plaintiff for such payment to be made to him'.

He sought the declaration of the court that the plaintiff is entitled to payment of his monthly pension as a former governor and an order that the defendants should pay to the plaintiff his arrears of pensions and thereafter to continue to pay him his pension as and when due without any default.  'Such computation in respect of the arrears and future payment shall be at the rate equivalent to the annual total salary of the incumbent governor of Sokoto State in compliance with the mandatory provisions of section 2 of the Sokoto State Grant of Pension(Governor and Deputy Governor ) Law No 2 of 2003.',he stated.

Bafarawa's Special Assistant (Media), Yusuf Dingyadi in a press statement yesterday explained that after waiting in vain for the Sokoto state government under Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko to pay his pension, the former governor 'asserted his right thereto by writing his letter of demand dated 20th April, 2010, through office of the SSG who merely acknowledged its receipt by letter dated 26th April, 2010.'

Dingyadi added, 'still undeterred by the State Government' refusal or neglect to pay him, former Governor Bafarawa wrote again on July 27th 2010 demanding payment coupled with a threat to seek a  legal redress if within 30 days the State government failed to pay him his long overdue pension.'

But commenting on the development, Governor Wamakko's Media Aide, Sani Umar alleged that Bafarawa is only 'seeking relevance'.  According to Sani Umar, all Bafarawa's entitlement are intact at the state Ministry of Finance ,adding that he did not go to collect them after writing   to the state government on the matter.