February 01, (THEWILL) – A State High Court in Langtang North Local government area, has served Mr Bitrus Zulfa Rimven, notice of consequence of disobedience of court order.
Rimven, who was candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the last October local government council elections in Plateau, had his nomination invalidated by a high court earlier, and warned not to ever parade himself as the Party’s candidate for the said elections.
Rimven and the APC however flayed the judgement and ignored the order of Court and participated in the election, he was eventually declared winner and sworn in by Governor Lalong to forcefully remove the present chairman of Langtang North Council, Joshua Laven Ubandoma, whose tenure subsists till next October 9.
The notice of consequence of disobedience of order of court urged Mr Bitrus Zulfa Rimven to take notice that unless he obeys the orders as contained in the judgement of his Lordship, Hon. Justice ND Shaseet of the High Court of Justice held in Langtang, he will be guilty of contempt of court and will be liable to be committed to prison.
Justice Shaseet, in his judgement said that the nomination of the 2 defendants (Rimven) by the first defendant (APC), to the 6 defendant (PLASIEC), as its candidate was null and void, that the election of the 2nd defendant on the 9th October, 2021 and his subsequent swearing in as Chairman of Langtang North LGC on 11th October, 2021 was equally null and void.
He further said the 6th defendant (PLASIEC), is ordered to withdraw the certificate of return issued to the 2nd defendant upon his purported election on the platform of the APC as there were no valid primaries to validly and legally nominate the 1st defendant. To have produced the 2nd defendant as it’s candidate for the LGC elections, which was held on the 9th October, 2021, was improper, he contended.
He also ordered that the 2nd defendant should not parade himself as the chairman of Langtang North LGC, his election having been premised on a null and void primary election conducted on the 23rd June, 2021, adding that failure to do so, he will be guilty of contempt of court, and will liable to be committed to prison.
Also upon consideration of ex parte motion after hearing LT Dangle, counsel for the judgement creditor applicant, the court ordered that leave is granted to the judgement creditor/applicant to serve the respondent contemnors with form 48 and all other court processes in this suit by substituted means of service.
This, according to the order, includes by pasting the same at the entrance gate of Langtang North LGC secretariat and office building of Chairman of Langtang North LGC Plateau State, being the last known office address of the respondent/contemnor.
It further ordered that the return date for the hearing shall be the 7th February 2022.
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