Date Published: 09/07/11

Tribunal orders arrest of former Zamfara Governor's aide over contempt

Mahmuda Shinkafi

The Zamfara Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has ordered the arrest of Alhaji Mukhtar Kenzy, the Personal Assistant to former Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Mahmuda Shinkafi, for contempt.

Kenzy was arrested when the tribunal chairman, Justice Gumna Kaigama, spotted him with video camera, recording the proceedings of the tribunal on Tuesday in the continuation of hearing of the PDP petition against the election of Gov. Abdulaziz Yari.

The embattled former governor was at the tribunal along with scores of PDP supporters to witness the proceedings.

Immediately the tribunal chairman raised the alarm, combined security operatives, who were mounted to ensure security around the court’s premises, swooped on the culprit.

The camera was seized and Kenzy escorted by the security to the State CID for investigation into the circumstances and reasons behind his actions without the permission of the tribunal.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the tribunal adjourned its sitting, the Tribunal Secretary, Hajiya Hannatu Bello, said the action of the former governor’s aide was illegal and a contravention of rules governing the proceedings of the tribunal.

``The tribunal has ordered for his arrest by the security and he has since been handed over to the State CID for further investigation on the circumstances and reasons for his action.``

Meanwhile, Counsel to the PDP, Mr Otumba Kalajaiye (SAN), has said that he has lined up 78 witnesses to testify before the tribunal in order to prove that the governorship election was rigged in seven local governments of the state.

Kalajaiye told the tribunal at its resumed sitting today that in Tsafe local government alone, he had enlisted 18 witnesses whose number had been reduced to 12, to assist the court in the speedy dispensation of the petition.

The tribunal chairman, who admitted testimonies of eight witnesses from Tsafe local government, adjourned further hearing to Thursday, Sept. 8 for continuation. (NAN)