UPDATED: Court reinstates Abok as Plateau Speaker

Abok was impeached by some Plateau lawmakers in October 2021.

Abok immediately challenged his impeachment at the State High Court, which reinstated him after the legal battle that lasted one year and six months.

Hon Justice M. L Musa of court 6 declared the impeachment was illegal, null and void.

The Court further awarded N20 million as the cost of appearance and N138,000 as the cost of filing the matter against the defenders.

The reinstated speaker, Abok while expressing his gratitude after the judgement, said: “I have been vindicated by this judgement. I committed no crime to warrant any impeachment, but I was forced out, and I ran to the judiciary to seek justice on my case, now I have been vindicated.

“With this judgement, I will resume office tomorrow Tuesday and there will be sitting.”

But in a swift reaction, Plateau Majority Leader and House Committee Chairman on Information Hon Nanlong Daniel, said the judgement is null and void because other events have overtaken it.

According to him: “After the impeachment of the former Speaker, the House declared his seat vacant, which means he is no longer a member of the house of assembly and cannot benefit from this judgement.

“In any case, the House is not even aware of the judgement, and we have not been served. We are just hearing the news as rumour. Whenever we are served we will react to it. But for now, we are not aware of the judgement.”