A/Ibom: AGF writes Saraki to swear-in Etim

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, has written the Senate President, Bukola Saraki,
asking him to honour the judgement of the Federal High Court, Uyo,
regarding the representation of Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial
District at the Senate.

The battle is between the Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Gas, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, and a former Member of the House
of Representatives, Bassey Etim.

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had in February sacked
Senator Akpan from the Senate on the grounds that he did not
participate in the primary election for the Akwa Ibom North- East
Senatorial District conducted by the PDP ahead of the 2015
election.

The court said Etim, who won the primaries, should be sworn-in
immediately. INEC had already issued him a certificate of
return.

The letter from the AGF with Reference Number
MJ/LIT/ABJ/MOC/112/17 said: “The Senate of NASS is, therefore,
required to comply with the judgement in Suit No.
FHC/UY/CS/1087/2015 between Hon. Bassey Etim and the Peoples
Democratic Party and two others by swearing in Hon. Bassey Etim as
the Senator representing Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial District
in the Senate of the NASS.”

Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ikechukwu
Ezechukwu, has said it was illegal for any legislator removed by a
court judgement to remain in the National Assembly.

Ezechukwu said this yesterday while reacting to various court
judgements, including that of the Supreme Court on the Taraba North
Senatorial seat, and Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency of
Benue State at the House of Representatives.

In respect of the High Court’s judgement in Akwa Ibom, Ezechukwu
said: “The Senate President’s refusal to swear-in the person
favoured by the judgement amounts to disobedience to court
order.”

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice,
Abubakar Malami, has written the Senate President, Bukola Saraki,
asking him to honour the judgement of the Federal High Court, Uyo,
regarding the representation of Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial
District at the Senate.

The battle is between the Chairman of the Senate Committee on
Gas, Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, and a former Member of the House
of Representatives, Bassey Etim.

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo had in February sacked
Senator Akpan from the Senate on the grounds that he did not
participate in the primary election for the Akwa Ibom North- East
Senatorial District conducted by the PDP ahead of the 2015
election.

The court said Etim, who won the primaries, should be sworn-in
immediately. INEC had already issued him a certificate of
return.

The letter from the AGF with Reference Number
MJ/LIT/ABJ/MOC/112/17 said: “The Senate of NASS is, therefore,
required to comply with the judgement in Suit No.
FHC/UY/CS/1087/2015 between Hon. Bassey Etim and the Peoples
Democratic Party and two others by swearing in Hon. Bassey Etim as
the Senator representing Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial District
in the Senate of the NASS.”

Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ikechukwu
Ezechukwu, has said it was illegal for any legislator removed by a
court judgement to remain in the National Assembly.

Ezechukwu said this yesterday while reacting to various court
judgements, including that of the Supreme Court on the Taraba North
Senatorial seat, and Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency of
Benue State at the House of Representatives.

In respect of the High Court’s judgement in Akwa Ibom, Ezechukwu
said: “The Senate President’s refusal to swear-in the person
favoured by the judgement amounts to disobedience to court
order.”