Lawyer Drags Senator Akwashiki To Court Over Defection To SDP

An Abuja-based legal practitioner, Iliya Ibn Aliyu has charged the Federal High Court, Lafia to declare the seat of Nasarawa North at the Nigerian Senate vacant, following the defection of occupant, Senator Godiya Akwashiki. 

Senator Akwashiki who was elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 had months ago defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) where he secured a ticket to seek re-election in the 2023 general elections. 

The President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan was also joined in the suit as second respondent.

According to Aliyu, the seat should be declare vacant and fresh election be conducted by the nation's electoral umpire, INEC (3rd respondent) following Senator Akwashiki's resignation from APC, on whose platform he was elected. 

Having defected to SDP (4th respondent), Senator Akwashiki should “refund to the Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria all the salaries, emoluments, constituency allowances and other allowances paid to him from June 24, 2022, until the date of vacating his senate seat as may be directed by the Order of Court in the circumstances of this suit’’. 

Aliyu also prayed the Court to direct the “Nigeria Police Force to arrest the 1st Respondent forthwith and prosecute him for illegally attending and/or participating in the senate business activities and continue to parade himself as the Senator representing Nasarawa North Senatorial District.’’