Kogi crisis: Abuja makes massive decision on state’s future
– The Kogi State House of Assembly speaker has been reinstated
– Momoh Lawal’s impeachment was reversed by the Federal High Court in Abuja
– The controversial politician was impeached by the assembly last February
The Federal High Court in Abuja has reversed the impeachment of Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Momoh Lawal.
The court also reinstated the other principal officers of the House to their various positions, Premium Times has reported.
Justice Nnamdi Dimgba ruled that the process for the removal of the principal officers failed to conform with Sections 92(2) (c) and 96 of the 1999 Constitution.
Controversial state politician Momoh Lawal
Consequently, position five lawmakers Umar Imam, Friday Sani, Lawal Ahmed, Bello Abdullahi and John Abah, who supposedly replaced the impeached officers are to stand down.
Mr Dimgba ruled that the reason given by the five lawmakers who effected the removal of the principal officers, that they resigned voluntarily, is a fatally flawed premise because they did not place any evidence of the resignation before the court.
Mr Dimgba said if the elected officials were impeached on the basis of voluntary resignation, “it is impossible for the meeting of the House to be quorate on 16/2/16 as to produce any legitimate decision, much less one that alters the leadership of the House.”
READ ALSO: NLC, Buhari’s supporters clash as strike enters day two
“By simple arithmetic, for a legislature that is down to 20 members from 25 at 16/2/16, two-thirds of that means not less than 14 (or 13) members of the House supporting the impeachment,” Mr Dimgba said.
The speaker, alongside his deputy, Aliyu Akuh, and seven other members of the assembly, along with the Peoples Democratic Party filed the originating summons through their counsel Emeka Etiaba.
Mr Lawal was impeached last February after many of the assembly’s lawmakers asked the Nigerian Federal House of Assembly to investigate the political crisis rocking the state.
READ ALSO: Governor Yahaya Bello in Mecca, prays for Kogi (photos)
The post Kogi crisis: Abuja makes massive decision on state’s future appeared first on Nigeria News today & Breaking news | Read on NAIJ.COM (Nigerian newspapers).