COUNCIL HEADS: KANO AG APPEARS BEFORE ASSEMBLY
There was heavy security presence at the Audu Bako secretariat in Kano and the entrance of the state House of Assembly yesterday as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Barrister Aliyu Umar appeared before the House in response to the legislators' invitation concerning the appointment of local government interim management officers.
The attorney general was summoned by the House last week to clarify the appointment of new council leaders by the state government after a court ruling on the matter.
At the Assembly, Barrister Aliyu Umar said he would not mind answering any questions but would want to draw the attention of the lawmakers to a motion on notice he was served that one Muhiyi Magaji wanted the Kano High Court to amend and or interpret the order and interpret the local government laws.
He argued that members of the House had immunity as lawmakers but that he does not enjoy that privilege and so if he discusses the matter he may be in contempt of court.
He urged the House to hold any further discussion on the matter pending the next hearing on December 15, saying he would be willing to answer all their questions after the judgment. The attorney general however said the letter of invitation from the House did not indicate what would be discussed if he appeared.
The member representing Kura/ Garun Mallam, Muktar Muhammad, said the court order was given to the attorney general and not the state assembly and that the issue relating to the reason for his invitation should not arise as he had granted interviews in which he said no one could revert the decision to appoint caretaker chairmen.
House Minority Leader Gambo Sallau also wanted the attorney general to explain why the executive went ahead to form interim management councils across the state despite a court order. But Abdullahi Ibrahim representing Rogo said the House should be cautious of the objections raised by the attorney general because as lawmakers, they should be at the forefront in the protection of the rule of law. Seventeen members of the House voted that the attorney general should not speak on the floor because of the subsisting court order on the matter against 15 members.