Nine months after she was placed on indefinite suspension, a member of the Bauchi State House of Assembly, Hon. Rifkatu Samson Danna, has initiated legal action to regain her seat. Danna, the only female member of the 31-seat parliament, was placed on indefinite suspension on June 7, last year following the report of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, Ethics and Privileges, which found her remarks during a parliamentary session “repugnant, detest full and derogatory (sic).”
During a debate on the proposed relocation of Tafawa Balewa local government area headquarters from Tafawa Balewa to Bununu, Danna, who represents Bogoro constituency, had insisted that the headquarters of all local governments as listed in the 1999
Constitution (as amended) could not be changed without a review of the constitution.
Danna, who was first elected into the House in 2007 and re-elected two years ago, had told the legislature that the unanimous and hurried manner in which the decision was reached suggested that a meeting on the matter to which she was not privy was held.
The statement was deemed “derogatory” to the House and Danna was made to apologise verbally and in writing.
Despite her apologies and the recommendation of the investigating House Committee that she should either be suspended indefinitely or be issued a letter of warning, the House passed a resolution placing Danna on indefinite suspension and withdrew her privileges.
She made a formal complaint to the Speaker, Hon. Yahaya Mohammed Miya, accusing him of bias particularly since the order subjecting her to a written apology came from him, a decision that was contrary to the recommendations of the investigating committee and a violation of Order 6 Rule 10(1 and 2) and Rule 11 of the parliamentary Standing Orders.
Danna thereafter sued the Speaker and the House, seeking the enforcement of her fundamental human rights and the quashing of the House resolution suspending her membership of the legislature.
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