Abubakar Malami, attorney-general
of the federation, was the one who asked Mohammed Adamu, inspector-general of
police (IGP), to provide security for the inauguration of some lawmakers of the
All Progressives Congress (APC) in Edo.
In a letter dated August 5,
Malami said his intervention was to enable the lawmakers hold plenary within
the house of assembly complex.
“My office is in receipt of a
letter dated 3rd August, 2020 from Messrs West Idahosa & Co. requesting for
the intervention of my office on behalf of its clients who are members-elect of
the Edo State House of Assembly but who were excluded or prevented from being
inaugurated till date since the House was inaugurated on 17th June 2019. A copy
of the letter is attached for ease of reference,” Malami’s letter read.
“In view of the forgoing and in
order to ensure constitutional compliance with the dictates of Sections 91 – 96
of the 1999 Constitution (as altered) and also to prevent breakdown of peace,
law and order, I’m requesting you kindly provide adequate security measures for
the purpose of the inauguration of the concerned members and subsequent
sittings in Edo State House of Assembly.”
In an unexpected turn of events
on Thursday, the Edo state house of assembly complex was besieged by armed
security personnel.
Later on Thursday, lawmakers-elect of the Edo state house of
assembly took their oath of office at a hidden location.
After taking the oath of office,
the lawmakers elected Victor Edoror, who was impeached as deputy speaker in
2018, as speaker.
However, in a letter dated August
6, Frank Okiye, speaker of the Edo assembly, kicked against the decision of the
minister.
According to the speaker,
Malami’s letter led to a breakdown of law and order in the state.
He said there were still pending
court cases on the matter involving the lawmakers, and as a result, Malami’s
intervention would be a “grievous assault” to the rule of law.
“I am reluctant to conclude that
the breathtaking speed of your response to the said letter had anything to do
with the fact that the Governor had left the APC for the PDP,” Okiye said.
“I am however certain that your
office certainly did not have all the facts relevant to the matter before it
issued the advisory and directive to the police to intervene in the affairs of
the Edo State House of Assembly.”
Okiye listed three court cases,
two of which are still pending, stating that the affected members in the suits
refused to take their oath of office and as a result their seats were declared
vacant — the lawmakers were later said to have challenged the declaration.
“From the foregoing, it is clear
that all matters relating to the functioning or otherwise of the Edo State
House of Assembly and/or its members are sub judice,” he said.
“It would therefore be clear that
the course of action which you have urged upon the Inspector General of Police
would in fact amount to a grievous assault on the rule of law, separation of
powers and respect for judicial authority.”
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