Nasarawa State Moves to Block Reinstatement of Suspended Council Chairman

The Nasarawa State Government and the State House of Assembly have launched a legal challenge to suspend a court ruling that reinstated Hon. Mohammed Haliru Arabo, the suspended Chairman of Lafia Local Government Council.

The defendants filed a motion at the High Court in Lafia seeking a stay of execution of the December 11, 2025, ruling by Justice Aisha Mohammed Usman. The ruling had ordered Arabo's reinstatement.

The application, filed under Section 36 of the 1999 Constitution and the state's High Court rules, names the State House of Assembly, its Speaker, the State Government, and the Attorney General as applicants.

They are requesting the court to halt the enforcement of Justice Usman's ruling in Suit No. NSD/LF/150/2025 until their motion to set aside the ruling itself is heard and determined.

In a separate filing, the House of Assembly asked the court to overturn the reinstatement order. It argues that the act it sought to restrain—Arabo's suspension—is already complete, and that the court lacked the authority to decide a substantive matter through an interim application.

Additionally, the Assembly filed a motion seeking to restrain the Inspector General of Police, the State Commissioner of Police, and the Chief Registrar of the High Court from taking any steps to enforce the reinstatement ruling while the case is ongoing.

A hearing date for the motions is yet to be fixed by the court.