Court recalls sacked Akwa Ibom House of Assembly members – TheNigerialawyer

A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo on Monday, May 6, 2019,
ordered the immediate recall of Members of the Akwa Ibom State
House of Assembly whose seats were declared vacant by the Speaker,
Hon Onofiok Luke.

The Court also ruled that their sack by the Speaker was illegal,
null and void and therefore ordered their immediate
reinstatement.

It would be recalled that the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State
House of Assembly, Hon Onofiok Luke had on November 19, 2018,
declared the seats of Hon Nse Ntuen, Hon Victor Udofia, Hon
Idongesit Ituen, Hon Gabriel Toby and Hon Otobong Ndem vacant
following their defection to the All Progressives Congress
(APC).

Ruling in the suit, FHC/UY/CS/171, Hon. Justice F. O. Riman
ordered the management of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to
pay the entitlements of the affected lawmakers from the date it was
stopped till date.

Justice Riman also ruled that the affected lawmakers should be
allowed access to their offices, chambers and legislative
proceedings.

The Judge, who said the sack of the members who defected to the
APC was illegal, ruled that they were still bonafide members of the
Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly until otherwise ruled by the
court.

According to the Judge, the Speaker acted illegally by declaring
the seats of the lawmakers vacant while the matter was still
pending in Court and ruled that the action of the Speaker on
November 19, 2018 as it affected the lawmakers who defected from
the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives
Congress (APC) was null and void and of no consequence.

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