The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lawmakers

  • $9.3m probe: Labour urges unity among lawmakers

    The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has urged members of the National Assembly to unite to investigate Nigeria’s $9.3million seized by South Africa.

    Its Secretary-General, Comrade Musa Lawal, warned that Nigerians were watching and may be pushed to take their destiny in their own hands should the issue be swept under the carpet.

    He said: “We commend those lawmakers and other Nigerians who insist that the matter be dispassionately looked into as it is one very scandalous, disgraceful and appalling issue that no one should try to play politics with.”

    He queried the circumstances surrounding the $9.3million allegedly meant for the procurement of arms for the government, asking relevant bodies to probe the deal.

    He said it was imperative for the government or its agents to clear the air on the smuggled money, rather than allowing unguarded utterances to take pre-eminence in the ongoing controversies surrounding the deal.

    “Our senators at the Upper Chamber and representatives members at the Lower Chamber must rise to the occasion for special discussion on the matter as urgent public interest revolves round it because it relates to threat to national security.

    “All relevant government agencies must also discharge their responsibilities without fear or favour, showing the world that our country is serious,” he said.

    He said as much as the workers would not want to pre-empt the outcome of a thorough probe on the $9.3 million scandal, labour cannot help but wish that the money had been spent to provide infrastructure to the economy.

    “We charge all the lawmakers, as bona fide Nigerians that they are, to be deeply concerned about the affairs of our country as they hold the mandate of the people to defend our national interests, to engender good governance and the rule of law, to ensure that corruption is drastically reduced to the barest minimum if not totally eliminated, and to take all requisite measures to keep the nation’s integrity strong and intact in the eyes of the international community,” he said.

  • Lagos lawmakers and their 2015 ambition

    Lagos lawmakers and their 2015 ambition

    Members of the Lagos House of Assembly have been unfolding their ambition for 2015 elections. The Speaker, Hon. Yemi Ikuforiji, wants to be governor. Some want to go to the National Assembly. Others are seeking re-election. Correspondent Oziegbe OKOEKI writes on how far they can go.

    As preparations for next year’s general elections begin, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have returned to the drawing board. There are 40 lawmakers in the House. They are members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). All of them have ambitions.

    It is a one-party House. It remains to be seen, if the party can achieve this feat in next year’s polls.

    Since the lawmakers belong to one party, the House has enjoyed harmony, peace and understanding. Issues that would ordinarily cause disharmony and friction are ironed out at the parliamentary caucus meeting.

    Political observers are of the view that this one-party structure of the House has contributed immensely to the progress and development of the state. But, many also believe that a lot of things may also have been buried in the cloak without the public being put in the know.

    However, of the 40 members, 18 are doing their first term, 16 are enjoying second term, five are in their third term and one is doing his fourth term. That simply means that 22 out of 40 lawmakers are ranking members. Majority of them want to go to the National Assembly. The Speaker, Yemi Ikuforiji, has governorship ambition. Eighteen lawmakers in their first term are seeking re-election. These legislators believe they are still learning the ropes. Some of them hardly make contributions on the floor.  When they rise up to speak, it is to second motions.

    Many of them are highly educated. The lawmaker from Amuwo-Odofin Constituency 1, Hon. Sultan Adeniji-Adele, is a lawyer. He is the youngest lawmaker in the House. But, he said he is still learning the process of law making.

    Others, however, have given a very good account of themselves. Their brilliant contributions to debates at plenary sessions on regular basis stand them out in the crowd. In this category are Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2); Olumuyiwa Jimoh ( Apapa 2); Ladi Balogun (Ajeromi (Ifelodun 2); Segun Olulade (Epe 2); Abiodun Tobun Epe 1); Lanre Ogunyemi (Ojo 2); Hakeem Masha (Lagos Island 1); Oluyinka Ogundimu (Agege 2); Bisi Yusuf (Alimosho 1); and Adebimpe Akinsola (Ikorodu 2)

    All the lawmakers have been exposed to series of trainings, locally and internationally. Under the leadership of Ikuforiji, training is a priority. These trainings are beginning to impact on the performances of the lawmakers.

    But, to retain their seats, they have to go through party primaries and general elections. They have started mobilising their constituents to support their aspiration.

    Out of  22 ranking members, 16  have indicated intention to retain their seats.  In this category are four out of  the six principal officers.  The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, who represents Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1, is doing a fourth term. He is the longest serving member and the most experienced. He was elected in 1999 and re-elected in 2003, 2007 and 2011. If he comes back next year, he may become the Speaker.

    The other three are the Majority Leader, Dr. Ajibayo Adeyeye (Kosofe 11); Chief Whip Hon.  Abdur-razaq Balogun (Surulere 11) and Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Somolu 11), who is also believed to be eyeing the seat of the Speaker, if he is re-elected. Apart from Taiwo and Balogun, who is doing his third term, the other two have only won election into the House twice.

    The remaining 12 Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1); Mufutau Egberongbe (Apapa 1); Wahab Alawiye King (Lagos Island 11); Mudasiru Obasa (Agege 1); Ipoola Omisore (Ifako Ijaiye 2); Rotimi Olowo (Somolu 1); Saka Fafunmi (Ifako Ijaiye 1); and Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet (Oshodi-Isolo 11). Almost all the lawmakers in this category, apart from Hon. Sikiru Osinowo (Kosofe 1), who is doing his third term, are about to complete their second term.

    Their argument is that they want to come back to perfect the art of lawmaking. For example, Agunbiade said that, because of his love for his constituents, he would not want to go to the National Assembly because it is too far.

    “I want to be close to my people where they can reach me every day with their complaints and where I can also facilitate quick response to their complaints. This I may not be able to do very well, if I am in  Abuja where I would only have to come home once in a while. So, because of this, I want to come back here in 2015,”he said.

    Six lawmakers want to move up the ladder. Top on the list is Ikuforiji. He has served as the Speaker thrice. By the time he completes his third term next year, he would have spent 10 years as the Speaker without recording any major crisis in the House. Observers say this is a big plus for him. He  is the longest serving Speaker in the country.

    The Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Lola Akande (Ikeja 11), who was re-elected in 2011, is eyeing the House of Representatives seat in Ikeja Constituency. Other House of Representatives aspirants include  Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 11); Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla (Mushin 11); Mrs. Adefunmilayo Tejuoso (Mushin 1) and Lawrence Ayeni (Oshodi-Isolo 1).  While Ayinla and Tejuoso are about to complete their third term, Oshun and Ayeni are about to complete their second term.

    To realise their ambition, they have some hurdles to cross. They must render their accounts of  stewardship. They must also submit themselves to scrutiny and popularity test at primaries. At the general elections, they have their Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) challengers to contend with.

  • Edo lawmakers unfold ambition for House of Reps, Senate

    No fewer than 24 members of the Edo State House of Assembly have unfolded their ambition to vie for  the House of Representatives and the Senate. Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR takes a look at their partisan moves.  

    Politics is in the air in Edo State. Although the governorship election will not hold next year, politicians are warming up for the parliamentary elections.

    In the House of Assembly, no fewer than 15 legislators are warming up for the House of Representatives and the Senate. Fifteen of them are from the ruling the All Progressive Congress (APC) and nine are from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Of the nine PDP lawmakers, six are under suspension.  The seat of Hon. Abdulrazaq Momoh, who represents Estako West 11 Constituency, was declared vacant. The suspended lawmakers, sources said, may not return to lthe House before the next year’s elections.

    The lawmakers, who are eyeing the National Assembly, are the Speaker, Hon. Uyi Igbe (Oredo West), Hon. Patrick Aisowieren (Orhionmwon North), Hon. Johnson Oghuma (Estako Central), Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen (Ikpoba-Okha), Hon. Philip Shaibu (Estako West), Hon. Paul Ohonbamu (Egor), and Hon. Patrick Osayimwen(Oredo East).

    In the National Assembly, lawmakers who want to move to the Senate  are Hon. Jim Adun (Ikpoba-Okha/Egor), Hon. Samson Osagie (Orhiomwon/Uhunmwode) and Abubarkar Momoh (Estako).

    Igbe and Hon. Patrick Osayimwen are competing for the House of Representatives ticket in Oredo Constituency.  The incumbent legislator is Hon Razaq Bello-Osagie, who succeeded Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon in 2011. Bello-Osagie has alread begun his re-election campaigns.

    Party sources disclosed that the party leadership is favourably disposed to the ambition of the Spraker. During the House of Assembly crisis, he di not betray the APC. He was a pillar of support for the governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. “Igbe may not want a return to the House of Assembly to be an ordinary member because the next Speaker would be picked from either Edo Central or Edo North because the governor would emerge from Edo South”, said a source.

    Osayimwen, who recently defected to the PDP, will slug it out with other aspirants, including  Victor Enoghama, the Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion’s in-law. A PDP source said that Enoghama has been penciled down for the ticket because the Esama, who is a party financier, is his godfather.

    However, Bello-Osagie is a formidable contender. Many constituents said that it may be difficult to edge him out or defeat him at the primaries and general elections, owing to his pedigree, and achievements as a legislator.

    Aisowieren is scheming to displace Hon. Samson Osagie in the House of Representative. He was a member of the House of Assembly for eight years. When his colleagues defected to the PDP, he rejected the overtures from the PDP to defect. He is the only APC aspirant who has indicated interest in his constituency.

    In Estako Federal Constituency, the battle is between Hon. Johnson Oghuma and Hon. Philip Shaibu, the Majority Leader. Shaibu is perceived as the defacto speaker. In fact, many believe that he is the anointed candidate. But, Johnson’s supporters have been campaigning with vigour. Their message is that no politician from Edo Central where he hails from has occupied the seat. Those who had represented the constituency include  Hon. Abubarkar Momoh and Hon. Abbas Braimah. They hail from Estako East and Estako West respectively.

    Hon. Jude Ise-Idehen defected to the PDP because his hopes of getting  Ikpoba-Okha/Egor ticket was slim.  Partly leaders were not ready to endorse him. Other aspirants are  Hon. Osazuwa Ehiorobo and Hon. Paul Ohonbamu. During the recent crisis, PDP leaders alleged that APC lawmakers who defected were not promised automatic tickets.

    The posters and banners of Jim Adun and Samson Osagie draw attention to their senatorial ambition in Edo South, especially Benin City. Both are in the House of Representatives. Osagie has spent 16 years in the parliament; eight years in the House of Assembly and another eight years in the House of Representatives. But, the question is: can they defeat Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon at the primaries?

    Abubarkar Momoh defected to the PDP after his senatorial ambition in the APC was thwarted by Senator Domingo Obende and Prof. Julius Ihonvbere. At the APC congress, Momoh won in only two wards. In the PDP, he will face  Pascal Ugbome and Bobby Ikazaboh at the primaries.

  • APC slams lawmakers’ insistence on Al-Makura’s sack

    APC slams lawmakers’ insistence on Al-Makura’s sack

    Huge cash is being deployed in an illegal battle to remove Nasarawa Governor Tanko Al-Makura, the All Progressives Party (APC) alleged yesterday.

    The APC did not state who was offering the cash, but it condemned the “role” of the Presidency in the matter.

    The Chief Judge has set up a seven-man panel which probed the House’s allegations against the governor, who came out clean.

    But there is a renewed plan by the House to impeach Al-Makura, This is against the Constitution, the party said.

    In a statement  in Ilorin by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said it would amount to an illegality for the lawmakers to draft a pliant Vacation Judge, as it has been reported, to set up another panel to probe the 16 allegations over which the governor had been absolved of any wrongdoing.

    It said the Constitution is clear that only the Chief Judge can set up such a panel, upon receiving a request from the Speaker of the House of Assembly, hence any attempt to draft a Vacation Judge to set up another panel will mean working against the spirit and letter of the same Constitution that gave the legislature the impeachment power in the first instance.

    APC also said Al-Makura could not be impeached on the basis of the allegations, noting that if indeed the lawmakers want to follow the Constitution, they will have to find a new set of offences against the Governor, notify him and then send their request to the Chief Judge, not to a Vacation Judge.

    ‘’That this latest move by the legislators, who are now marooned in Abuja instead of their base in Lafia, is being instigated by the PDP is not in doubt, irrespective of the unconvincing and tepid denial from the party. That this illegality is being contemplated under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan is clear for all to see. In fact, it is in line with the culture of lawlessness and impunity for which the Jonathan Administration has now become infamous.

    ‘’This is the only reason why the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, from Nasarawa State, could be goading the legislature to disregard the Constitution in its avowed determination to remove the governor, for no reason other than he belongs to the opposition. The minister is well aware that he is functioning in an atmosphere that encourages impunity, and that the President will not sanction him for encouraging illegality.

    ‘’It is also as clear as daylight that the kind of money being dangled at the lawmakers to impeach Al-Makura at all costs could only have come from a deep purse or a war chest. With almost 30 million Naira and other perks being reportedly offered to each lawmaker just to take out an opposition governor, it is clear in whose interest and at whose behest such is being done,’’ the party said.

    It said that from Police officer Joseph Mbu, who trampled the Constitution and virtually seized the reins of government during his tenure as the Commissioner of Police in Rivers, to Marilyn Ogar, a supposed spokesperson of the DSS who has now become a spokesperson for the PDP, impunity is the name of the game under the Jonathan Administration.

    ‘’The puppeteers of the marooned Nasarawa legislators had better call them to order before they precipitate a Constitutional crisis in the state and do a grievous harm to our democracy. The lawmakers have tried and failed to remove Al-Makura. Let them now return to Lafia and continue with their constitutional duties. They must give peace a chance,’’ APC said.

  • Nasarawa panel begins sitting as CJ rejects lawmakers’ request

    Nasarawa panel begins sitting as CJ rejects lawmakers’ request

    Nasarawa lawmakers have lost a major battle in their push to impeach Governor Tanko Al-Makura.

    Chief Judge (CJ) Suleiman Dikko has declined to disband the seven-man panel investigating the 16 allegations against Al-Makura.

    The panel held its inaugural sitting in Lafia yesterday in line with its mandate in Section 188(7) (b) of the 1999 Constitution.

    Panel Chairman Yusuf Shehu Usman said its session would be made public for residents to have first hand knowledge of the governor’s responses to the allegations.

    Al-Makura has engaged a nine-man legal team to defend his integrity  having complied with Section 188(5) of the 1999 Constitution, the Chief Judge said he could no longer interfere with the impeachment process.

    A source said: “There was no way the Chief Judge could stop the impeachment proceeding which had begun with the inauguration of the panel. So, he chose to allow the process to go on since the court is always there for the aggrieved.

    “He said disbanding the panel will lead to anarchy as those who are supporting the governor will accuse him of bias.

    “The CJ feels he has fulfilled his constitutional obligation; it is left to the panel to decide the prima facie of the allegations.”

    Al-Makura has argued that the CJ can no longer disband the panel.

    The governor, who spoke through his lawyer, Chief Udechukwu Nnoruka Udechukwu, (SAN), said the lawmakers’ call for the dissolution of the panel “is ridiculous.”

    Udechukwu, who is leading a team of lawyers, including Olufunke Aboyade (SAN) for the governor, spoke yesterday on the telephone from Lafia, Nasarawa State.

    He contended that under the constitution, the lawmakers could not ask for the disbandment of the panel, stressing that even the CJ, who constituted it, could no longer disband it, unless a court of competent jurisdiction orders him to do so.

    The senior advocate noted that impeachment is strictly governed by the Constitution, and the steps are contained in Section 188 (1) to (11) of the Constitution.

    In his view, the 20 lawmakers, who are behind the impeachment are acting in bad faith, motivated by base political considerations.

    “The Legislature can ill afford to propagate impunity and desperation,” he added.

    The members of the panel, inaugurated last Friday, are: Yusuf Shehu Usman (chairman), Mohammed Sabo Keana, Reverend Joel Galadima, Alhaji Abdu Usman, Samuel Chaku, Mohammed Sani Usman and Pastor Daniel Chaga.

    The state government yesterday asked the lawmakers to go to court if they are aggrieved over the composition of the seven-man panel.

    It said the Assembly could not approbate and reprobate at the same time on a constitutional issue.

    The government made its position known in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the governor on Public Affairs, Hon. Abdulhamid Kwarra.

    The statement said: “Section 188 (subsection 5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended states

    that the Chief Judge of the state shall at the request of the Speaker of the House of Assembly appoints a panel of seven persons who in his own opinion are of unquestionable integrity, not being members of any public service, legislative house or political party.”

    “Nasarawa State government is of the position that the Assembly cannot probate and re-probate on a matter that is before His Lordship, the Chief Judge of the state.

    “Should the members of the state House of Assembly be aggrieved with the compliance of the Chief Judge of Nasarawa State with the provision of Section 188

    sub-section 5 of the 1999 Constitution, the right thing to do is for the House to go to the

    court of law to challenge the composition of the investigative panel”.

    On the relocation of the Assembly members to a guest house in Karu Local Government Area, the statement added: “The sitting was not in conformity with any democratic requirement because no rule of the House permits the sitting of the Assembly anywhere in the state to conduct legislative affairs. The sitting was, therefore, ill-motivated, illegal and of no effect whatsoever.

    “More so the Supreme Court has made a definitive declaration that the House of Assembly can only conduct its legislative functions in legally designated place in the state capital (Balonwu Vs Obi 2007 NWLR PT1008/488).”

    A lawyer, Chief Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), said the “purported proceedings held in Karu, and the resolutions passed by the 19 members were non-binding on any system”.

    “They have no right to question the constitution of the panel by the Chief Judge. They have no powers over the CJ, if they have grievances arising from the action of the CJ in the CJ’s compliance with the provisions of Section 188; they have the option to go to court.”

    Members of governor’s nine-man-man legal team are: Chief U. N Udechukwu (SAN), lead counsel, Olufunke Aboyade (SAN), Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, Mr. Kehinde Aina, Esq; O. O. Adeleye, Esq, Olatoye Akinbode, Abdulwasi Musah, , C. I. Mbachu and Jamin Nwosu.

  • Lawmakers to Fashola: Curb menace of truck drivers

    Lawmakers to Fashola: Curb menace of truck drivers

    Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babatunde Fashola to check the menace of truck and trailer drivers on bridges and highways in Apapa Local Government Area.

    They also urged the governor to ensure that tanker drivers patronise their terminal and holding bay on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    These were part of the resolutions passed by the House following a motion co-sponsored by Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe (Apapa 1); Wahab Alawiye-King (Lagos Island 2); Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1), Olumuyiwa Jimoh (Apapa 2) and Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2).

    The House urged the governor to “expedite action on the revitalisation of rail transportation system of the state to help reduce the influx of trucks and trailers plying the route to ease the hardship being experienced by commuters on a daily basis on the road”.

    It also called on the National Assembly through the Committee on Works to direct the Federal Ministry of Works to expedite action on the reconstruction of the road to avoid practical shut down of the road.

    In arriving at the resolutions, the lawmakers noted the indiscriminate parking and abandonment of trucks and trailers on bridges and highways in Apapa Local Government Area causing traffic jam with their attendant loss of productive man-hours and posing serious danger to the bridges built to ease vehicular movement in the area.

    The House also pointed out the health hazards to commuters and residents plying the route because of emissions from the trucks and trailers which constitute nuisance to the environment.

    The House expressed worries that the perpetual parking and abandonment of articulated vehicles on the roads and bridges had resulted in serious traffic gridlock that had taken a toll on the economic activities of the axis.

    It said the situation had worsened the state of federal roads, thereby posing further serious danger to lives and property in the area.

    Also, the House expressed worries that the deep potholes along the roads have turned into death traps, thus giving hoodlums the opportunity to attack commuters and vehicles plying the routes.

  • ‘NASS will not adopt national confab proceedings’

    ‘NASS will not adopt national confab proceedings’

    A member representing Egor/Ikpoba-Okha Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Jim Adun has reacted to the proceedings in the ongoing National confab stating that it will not see the light of the day.

    Honorable Adun, a two-time house of Representative member expressed deep reservations about the Confab added that it will be a slight on the National assembly to adopt proceedings from a selected body to be passed into law

    He said whereas members of the National Assembly were elected by the people to represent them and make laws for the good governance of the people, it will be according to him ‘foolhardy’ to think that proceedings from the delegate conference will be adopted.

    Adun who is seeking to represent Edo South Senatorial District under the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Senate said “I am one individual who is against the national conference. It is an exercise in futility. How do you get unelected people to waste public resources and make recommendations for us to pass into law”

    “We must face the truth. We have weak persons in government if you can shut down the state and National Assemblies and let us go and have a National Conference.”

    Speaking on his senatorial ambition Adun said “we have taken cue from the state and the challenge before us is to improve on what then state governor has done. We have achieved a lot in the House of Representatives in terms of bringing to our people dividends of democracy to our people.”

  • Tambuwal, Imoke urge lawmakers to empower youth, women

    Tambuwal, Imoke urge lawmakers to empower youth, women

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has urged federal legislators to promote youth and women empowerment in their constituencies in order to assist in reducing the rate of unemployment in the country.

    Tambuwal spoke in Calabar during the empowerment programme of the Federal Legislator representing Calabar South, Akpabuyo and Bakassi Federal Constituency in Cross River State, Mr Essien Ayi, said he was willing to encourage members of the Lower House to give back to their constituents by personally attending such programmes.

    Tambuwal, at the event where 107 members of the constituency were empowered with cars, computers, hair dressing equipment, among others, said the challenge facing the present administration was job creation and appealed to wealthy Nigerians to bridge the gap by generating ideas that could help solve the problem.

    “I would want to see more of this from our Federal Lawmakers and I promise to personally attend such a programme to encourage them. Of course, programmes like this touch directly on the lives of the people,” Tambuwal said.

    The Speaker commended Pastor Essien Ayi for identifying with his constituents and called on other Legislators to emulate his example.

    Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke, said youth and women empowerment was a mandatory obligation of any representative of the people.

    He said representation comes with the duty to identify with the people and to bring democracy dividends to them, which will reduce joblessness and poverty in the society.

    “Empowering the people is an obligation to any representative. If you want to represent the people, you must tell them what you will do for them. We have gone past the time when the people cannot ask their representatives what they have been able to achieve for the people,” Imoke stressed.

    He also commended Ayi for exhibiting what he called an exemplary leadership by donating fifty cars and other empowerment items to his constituents and urged beneficiaries to put the items to good use.

    Director-General of National Directorate of Employment, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, whose organisation partnered with Essien Ayi to train the beneficiaries, said the organisation ensured that all the artisans among the beneficiaries were properly trained to provide opportunities for others and assured that there was reduction in the labour market.

    Ayi said he was only fulfilling his promise to his people as he had empowered the people in the past, “though not at a scale such as this.”

    Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of 50 cars of different brands to some beneficiaries, more than 100 computer sets, sewing machines, Lawn Mowing equipment, among other items.

  • Lawmakers remove N100m medicare from Pension Law

    Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly lawmakers repealed yesterday the contentious clause in the Former Governors and Deputy Governors’ Pension Law (2014).

    The contentious clause, which generated public outrage, was the N100million and N50million medical expenses for former governors, deputy governors and their spouses.

    The lawmakers expunged the monetary tag out of the bill though making Section 1 (d) of the bill, which provides free medical services for former governors, their deputies and their spouses open.

    Ten of the 26 members, including  Speaker Sam Ikon (Etinan), sat to consider the repeal of the Pension Law.

    The Bill to repeal the section of the law was sent to the House by Governor Godswill Akpabio on June 11 and read at yesterday’s plenary session.

    The House after receiving the bill allowed it to pass through first and second readings and dissolved into committee of the whole and considered the bill clause by clause.

    After careful deliberations, the Deputy Speaker, Udo Kerien (Oruk Anam), moved a motion adopting the committee report and was seconded by Ekong Samson (Mkpat Enin).

    After the motion, the bill was read a third time and was passed into law.

    Speaking after the passage of the bill, Ikon said lawmakers bowed to public pressure by amending section of the bill assent by the governor.

  • Court restrains suspended Edo lawmakers

    AN EdoState High Court has restrained the four suspended lawmakers from entering the Assembly and the legislative quarters.

    The court also restrained Festus Ebea (Deputy Speaker), Patrick Osayimwen, Jude Ise-Idehen and Friday Ogieriakhi, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police Zone 5, Benin City and the Commissioner of Police, from interfering with the sitting activities and other functions of the Assembly, pending the determination of a motion on notice before it.

    Ruling yesterday on a motion exparte brought by Speaker Uyi Igbe, Majority Leader Phillip Shaibu and the House of Assembly, Justice V. O Eboreime ordered substituted service of the originating summons on the suspended lawmakers by advertisement in a national newspaper and a local newspaper within 48 hours.

    The plaintiffs are seeking “an order of interim injunction restraining the four defendants by themselves or agents, assigned privies or other persons acting for, through or by them from forcibly gaining entrance into the premises and legislative quarters or interfering with the sitting activities and other functions of the third claimant, pending the determination of the motion on notice”.

    Justice Eboreime adjourned the case till June 23.

    The applicants were represented by Gabriel Oladejo; Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) represented the suspended lawmakers.

    The lawmakers began a peace process to resolve the leadership impasse in the House.

    The lawmakers’ resolve to discuss the crisis began with a fight in the morning.

    Assembly workers, who resumed for work, were chased away by policemen and other security operatives.

    Only the lawmakers and their personal staff were allowed into the  premises.

    Trouble started when All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers learnt that Ebea led eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmakers to begin sitting at 6:30am.

    It was learnt that the APC lawmakers, led by Speaker Igbe, stormed the hallowed chamber and a free-for-all broke out.

    Three glass doors were destroyed. An intervention by the Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, stopped the fracas.

    The police commissioner was seen brokering peace among the lawmakers, who later sat at a round table inside the chamber. Igbe presided over the meeting.

    Adebanjo supervised the peace meeting for over five hours before leaving.

    He told reporters that the lawmakers were matured enough to handle the situation.

    The commissioner said he would maintain law and order and ensure security of lives and property.

    The 10-hour peace meeting, however, ended in a deadlock.

    There was a disagreement among the lawmakers, who were to begin sitting at 5:30pm, over the presence of the four suspended lawmakers.

    A lawmaker said they wanted them to leave but  Ebea refused.

    The arguments lingered over what another lawmaker said was Ebea’s insistence that he was elected speaker.

    Speaker Igbe displayed a copy of the court injunction which restrained the suspended lawmakers from entering the Assembly complex.

    In a sitting that lasted 10 minutes the Speaker read the judgment and informed the lawmakers that those suspended should leave but  Osayimwen said they have not been served.

    The sitting was adjourned till Monday.

    It was gathered that two of the suspended lawmakers were in Abuja yesterday to meet with a PDP chieftain, who procured a mace for them.

    The mace will be used for the suspended members’ sitting outside the chamber.

    Security was beefed up as the police increased the number of vehicles and personnel at the Assembly.

    There was traffic congestion on roads adjoining Oba Ovoramwen Square as some of the roads were sealed off.

    The APC warned the PDP not to promote violence in the state. It said the plan for a state of emergency would not work.

    Its Publicity Secretary, Godwin Erhahon, at a press briefing, accused the police of allowing PDP supporters entry into the Assembly but chased APC youths away.

    Erhahon said the lawmakers acted constitutionally in the suspension of the Deputy Speaker and three others.

    He praised APC members for being law abiding and urged residents to be clam.