Zia Removal

A Superior Court judge has ordered the removal of 5th Ward Councilman Muhammad Zia of Atlantic City after ruling he did not live in the resort prior to last year’s election, according to court documents.Judge Michael Blee determined Zia didn’t have a certificate of occupancy for a home on North Brighton Avenue and was instead living in Egg Harbor Township, making him ineligible to hold public office in Atlantic City, the 63-page order indicates. A city spokesperson declined to comment about the ruling, and Zia did not immediately respond to a request for comment.