As the crisis in the Edo State House of Assembly lingers, the House on Wednesday impeached the Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, on allegations of misconduct and misdemeanor.
The 15 lawmakers, including the Speaker of the House, Uyi Igbe, endorsed the impeachment when it held plenary at an old chamber located at the Government House in Benin.
While moving the motion for the impeachment, a member of the House, Folly Ogedengbe, representing Owan East I, noted that the suspended Deputy Speaker was bound to be impeached, citing Section 92(2C) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 72, Rule 19, of the Assembly.
The lawmakers also elected a new Deputy Speaker, Victor Edoror, who took the oath of office immediately.
The House explained that it had to hold sitting at the old chamber following ongoing renovation in the chambers located at the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex, which he linked to the forcible entry by the Deputy Speaker and some aides.
“This renovation work going on there was caused by the fact that the former Deputy Speaker and a group of aides who forcibly entered the place, destroying doors and windows.
“Of course, we had to repair them and put them back to shape,” Igbe said.
The Speaker also disclosed that that it would take a couple of weeks for works to be completed, as informed by the director of works.
He said, “So rather than sitting at home doing only oversight functions, I think the idea is that we should have somewhere to do plenary.”
He said there were lots of reports in the House waiting to be attended to.
Also commenting, a member of the House, representing Etsako Central, Johnson Oghuma, who said that Assembly was a civilised and law-abiding House, however noted that it was disheartening that a member of the House could not obey a court order.
“If somebody who calk himself Honourable in a state will not obey court order, it is disheartening.
“We cannot make law and yet we refused to obey the law that we make,” Oghuma said.
The House adjourned sitting to July 7 and said it would resume plenary in the old chamber.
However, the unseated Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea, described his impeachment as “executive impunity and madness”.
Ebea said the development indicated that the crisis in Assembly was the handiwork of the State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole, who had ulterior motives.
Ebea, when contacted said, “These APC members are a bunch of dishonourable people who have lost sense of every human and legislative dignity.
“Finally, Edo people now know that Governor Oshiomhole precipitated the crisis in the House for his personal gain.
“He has finally colapsed Uyi Igbe and his Co travellers into his executive. What a shame.
“However, all they did in Governor Oshiomhole’s office today is not sitting but executive impunity and madness
“To all extent, it is null and void.”
The legislators had on June 27 adjourned sitting to today, while the group led by the Deputy Speaker adjourned to June 30 but could not gain access to the chamber.
Earlier at about 7am, when our correspondent arrived the Assembly Complex , there was a heavy presence of policemen with over fifteen police vehicles and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps to forestall any possible breach of peace.
Pressmen were at the entrance of the Assembly awaiting the arrival of the House members while staff of the Assembly were seen gathered in groups outside the complex and discussing the lingering crisis. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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