Former W. Bahr el Ghazal speaker to sue governor
March 30, 2015 (JUBA) – A former speaker of South Sudan’s Western Bahr el Ghazal state assembly has filed a case in the constitutional court against governor, Rizik Zackaria Hassan.
“I have today [Monday] met the country’s constitutional high court president and presented him all my legal documents detailing my case with Rizik Zackaria Hassan of Western Bahr el Ghazal state of which court will set a hearing day,” Acho told reporters in Juba.
“I have opened my case against Rizik based on six points which include his ignorance of assembly powers,” he added.
The former speaker, among others, accused Governor Hassan of allegedly ignoring a vote of no confidence the state assembly passed against the current finance minister, Lilian Valentino Rizik.
“He [Hassan] also ordered the dismissal of MPs in 2013 whom he claims had taken part in the December 2012 civil protest over the relocation of Wau county administrative headquarters,” said Acho.
The governor’s other undoing, he said, was the decision to remove the government chief whip in the assembly, Justin Makauc Majok whom he replaced with Khamis Dayia.
“The governor also dissolved the state assembly heads of specialized committees and appointed people next to him,” claimed Acho.
“Am 100% I will win this case because I have all documents regarding the filed against the governor with clear evidences,” he added.
Acho was removed from the speakership in February this year after 27 out of 43 lawmakers passed against him a vote of no confidence in the state assembly.
(ST)