BREAKING: House of Representatives take over Kogi Assembly
– The House of Representatives is empowered by the 1999 Constitution to take such decision
– Kogi state House of Assembly has been embroiled in crisis in the last one month
The Kogi state House of Assembly has been taken over by the federal House of Representatives, Daily Trust reports.
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The House of Representatives on March 9, said it took over the functions of the state assembly as it was empowered by the provision of Section 11 (4) of the 1999 Constitution, which says the National Assembly could take over the functions of any state assembly that is enmeshed in crisis.
Kogi state House of Assembly has been taken over by House of Representatives
The Kogi state assembly has been embroiled in crisis in the last one month, which propelled the House of reps decision at today’s plenary.
The crisis started after five members of the assembly allegedly impeached the Speaker Momoh Jimoh Lawal and voted Umar Imam as the new speaker.
In a reaction to the development, the federal House four days ago resolved to set up an ad-hoc committee to visit the state assembly with a view to resolving the issue.
It was gathered that during inquiry, the five lawmakers that impeached the speaker, ignored the Reps panel. The ad-hoc committee last week went ahead to submit its report to the House, which was considered at plenary today.
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The House also directed Solomon Arase, the inspector general of police to seal off the state assembly straightaway since the House has taken over its functions. The House of Representatives decision will take effect after the red chamber, which is the Senate agrees.
On February 16, the speaker of the assembly, Momoh Lawal, was impeached by 5 out of 25 members of the house. Umar Imam, representing Lokoja 1 constituency was elected as the new speaker.
Channels TV reports that, Friday Sani who emerged as the new Majority Leader, revealed that the speaker was impeached for not carrying other members of the House along in the affairs of the assembly.
Leadership reports that in a reaction to the ongoing crisis, 15 lawmakers from the state assembly petitioned the Speaker of the House of Representative, Yakubu Dogara, requesting the House to investigate the crisis rocking the assembly.
The petition which was titled: “Act of impunity by Governor of Kogi state Alhaji Yahaya Bello and five members of Kogi state House of Assembly: Call for investigation on the illegal act of five members of the Kogi state House of assembly led by Honourable Umar Imam in the unlawful announcement of the purported impeachment and removal if principal officers of the Kogi state House of Assembly on 16th February 2016,” was submitted on February 17, by Lawal and 14 other lawmakers.
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