By Umar Sani
The impeached deputy chairman of the Shira Local Government Council in Bauchi State, Adamu Bamaraya, has filed a lawsuit at the Bauchi State High Court challenging his removal from office by the Shira Local Government, Legislative Council.
Bamaraya told journalists in Bauchi on Friday that he was never summoned to appear before any investigation panel, committee or tribunal, nor was he given any opportunity to defend himself against any allegation as required by Section 20 (7) of the Local Government Law and section 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
He explained that he only heard about the removal of his principal the Shira Local Government Council ex-Chairman, Abdullahi Beli, for reasons not best known to him.
According to him, “Following the removal of the chairman, I also asked to resign from office by the Shira Local Government stakeholders.
“However the efforts of the stakeholders who want to force me to resign from my seat failed because I refused to resign.”
He stated as a result of his refusal to resign, the stakeholders, through the Shira Divisional Police Officer (DPO), arrested him and took him to a Correctional Centre without trial before he was bailed out.
“To my surprise, I later learned that a by-election had been scheduled for May 24, 2025, to fill both the chairman and deputy chairman positions, “he said.
In response, Bamaraya filed a legal suit seeking an immediate halt to the planned by-elections by the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission, BASIEC, his reinstatement as Deputy Chairman of Shira LGA, and the punishment of the individual who arrested and imprisoned him for over one week for refusing to sign a resignation letter, among other demands.
PUNCH gathered that the defendants listed in the suit include the Shira Local Government Council, the Bauchi State House of Assembly, the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC), and all councillors representing Shira LGA.
Recalled that on March 3, 2025, the Legislative Council of Shira Local Government removed both the Chairman, Abdullahi Beli, and his Deputy, Usman Bamaraya, citing allegations of gross misconduct, financial mismanagement, dereliction of duty, and abuse of office.
In line with this, the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC) has scheduled by-elections for May 24, 2025, to fill the vacancies.
The Chairman of BASIEC, Ahmed Makama, stated that the commission received official communication declaring the vacancies, triggering its legal obligation to hold elections within 14 days.
“We received correspondence informing us that a vacancy exists in the offices of the Chairman and Deputy Chairman in the Shira Local Government. As a commission, we are duty-bound to conduct an election to fill those vacancies,” Makama said.
He noted that the Bauchi State Electoral Law (2008) mandates that by-elections must be held within 14 days once a vacancy is officially declared.
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