Kogi Assembly Crises: Drama As G15 Resumes Plenary

268
Spread the love

From Zacchaeus Ozovehe, Lokoja

There was a mild drama at the Kogi State House of Assembly on Thursday as members of the embattled Speaker, Rt. Hon. Momohjimoh Lawal resume sitting amidst tight security.

Hon. Momohjimoh Lawal who was purportedly impeached on the 16th February, 2016 by a group of five law makers lead by Imam Umar had previously survived an impeachment attempt in December 2015.

The G15 members who had approached the court to declare the actions of Imam-lead faction null and void, secured judgement from an Abuja High Court on the 19th May, reinstating Hon. Lawal as the authentic Speaker. The court equally restored the Deputy Speaker, Aliyu Akuh and seven other Principal Officers of the Kogi State House of Assembly viz: Kolawole Mathew, Osiyi Godwin, Sunday Shigaba, Ndako Idris, Oluwatoyin Lawal, Musa Jimoh and Victor Omofaye.

Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, while delivering judgement, said the process that led to their purported impeachment
on February 16, 2016, was unconstitutional and illegal.

According to the court, their removal was not in line with provisions of sections 90, 91, 92 (2) (c), 95 (1) & (2) and 96(1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

It therefore voided the election that brought  Umar Imam as the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, as
well as the emergence of four others.

However, on getting to the Assembly complex, the reinstated speaker with other Principal Officers were denied entry by heavily armed police men and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps. The law makers who resisted an advice to jump through the fence later forced their ways into the chambers for legislative business.

Entrace of the House of Assembly Complex blocked

Entrace of the House of Assembly Complex blocked

Addressing his colleagues at the hollow chamber, Hon. Lawal dedicated the victory of his group in court to God and the good people of the state who are lovers and defenders of democratic tenets.

He said “we must dedicate our victory to God Almighty and the good people of kogi state by being more responsive to their yearnings and aspiration.

Momohjimoh dedicates victory to God

Momohjimoh dedicates victory to God

“We must from now on strengthen our resolve to defend and protect the mandate given to each and everyone of us. Regrettably, we have lost vital part of a whole legislative year due to antics of the anti-democratic forces. We must therefore be ready to work extra miles to cover up lost grounds”, the Speaker stressed.

He commended Honourable members in their resolute to pursue the truth inspite of what he described as dictatorial tendencies from external forces.

Asked why the police barricaded the Assembly complex, the state police Commissioner of Police Mr Yakubu Usman said the action was taken to prevent hoodlums gaining entrance into the complex noting that the police would not fold arms and watch some miscreants taking law into their hands.

“We got an information that thugs are about to attack the House of Assembly. We therefore sent reinforcement because House of Assembly is not for thugs and we will not allow government properties to be destroyed. We have nothing to do with the legislators because they are here to do their work” , the police boss declared.

The Police Commissioner however disclosed to journalists that about four alleged thugs who claimed to be Personal Assistants to law makers were apprehended and undergoing investigations.


Spread the love



Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *