Taraba: Court stops medical panel on Suntai

The medical panel set up by the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Mr. Josiah Kente, to investigate the health status of Governor Danbaba Suntai has been nullified by a Taraba High Court in Jalingo.

Justice Silas Haruna who gave the ruling on Friday said the action of setting up the panel was a usurpation of the judicial process.

Justice Haruna held that Suntai had already filed a suit before the state high court, challenging the decision of the House of Assembly to stop him from resuming duty after he transmitted a letter to that effect on August 26, 2013.

His words:“There are two cases on this matter: one between Mr Bello Mustapha against Suntai at the Supreme Court and Suntai against the house of assembly at the state high court; both are served on the defendants.

“Their action of setting up the panel to investigate Suntai is thus a usurpation of the powers of the Supreme Court and the state high court.

“It is, therefore, illegal, null and void”.

Haruna ordered those involved not to take further action on Suntai until the determination of the substantive suites at various courts.