Court upholds royal father’s sack in Niger,Orders payment of his salary arrears
A Minna High Court has upheld the removal and dismissal of the Amana Kakanda, the village head of Muye in Niger state, Alhaji Abdulqadir 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 blow 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 8 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 2 others were listed as defendants in the matter.
In a ruling delivered on 31st October 2023, the judge dismissed 7 reliefs out 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 1st 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 tovthe committee, adding that, ” the contention of the plaintiffs that the 1st plaintiff was not given fair hearing by the investigative committee is false”.
In the final analysis, the court held the the plaintiffs failed to establish their case to be entitled to the reliefs sought except relief No 3 which has to do with payment of salary arrears. She said, “Consequently, reliefs 1,2,4,5,6,7 and 8 are hereby refused while relief 3 is granted as follows:
” The court hereby direct the 2nd defendant to pay to the 1st plaintiff all his arrears of salaries as the village head of Muye on grade level 07/06 from 15th April 2020 when he was appointed till 20th May 2021 when he was removed/dismissed “, the judge ordered.
