By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Amid ongoing disputes over the National Chairmanship of the Labour Party (LP), a group supporting Mrs. Nenadi Usman’s leadership, under the aegis of Concerned Citizens, has reiterated that Engr. Michael Ayuba Auta, the Southern Kaduna Senatorial candidate, was dragged to court in 2023.
Engr. Auta had previously criticized Mrs. Nenadi Usman’s appointment as LP national chairman, calling it unconstitutional.
According to the group’s statement, Engr. Auta was taken to court by Zacks Henry, a 45-year-old artisan, for alleged fraud. The case was heard by Justice L. Daniel of the Upper Customary Court in Television, Sabon-Tasha, Kaduna.
Henry’s claim, as reported in national dailies on February 16, 2023, was that Engr. Auta had contracted him on November 19, 2022, to rebrand his campaign vehicles but had failed to pay the agreed sum of N850,000. Henry stated that Auta had been avoiding payment for four months, prompting him to seek legal recourse.
When the case was brought before the court, Justice Dorcas Daniel ordered a substituted service on Engr. Auta and adjourned the matter to March 1, 2023, for a definite hearing. Earlier, on January 18, 2023, the court had summoned Auta to appear on February 14, 2023, to address the charges.
Additionally, in May 2023, Engr. Auta, along with two other key members, was suspended by the Labour Party’s state executive. This suspension followed accusations of siding with the faction led by Lamidi Apapa, which was deemed illegal by the party.
The Kaduna State LP executive suspended Auta, Hon. Bashir Idris Aliyu (2023 deputy governorship candidate), and Alh. Ibrahim Sidi Bamali (Senatorial candidate, Zone 1) for their involvement with the Apapa faction. The suspension was announced after an emergency meeting of the state executive council on May 6, 2023. The resolution, signed by party spokesman Idris Yusuf, stated that these members were suspended for their participation in what was described as an illegal faction.
The Kaduna LP executive also disassociated itself from the Apapa-led faction, labeling it a “counterfeit group.”
In another accusation, Engr. Auta was reportedly alleged to have received about 200 pieces of traditional cloths (Babban riga) from Alhaji Murtala in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State, amounting to N15 million, but failed to make the payment. The complainant has reportedly been unsuccessful in recovering the money through multiple attempts in Abuja.
