A High Court sitting in Makurdi has retrained the eight suspended members of the Benue State House of Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment process they initiated on the state governor, Samuel Ortom.
The presiding judge, Justice Theresa Igoche, on Wednesday restrained the suspended lawmakers from sitting and upheld their suspension pending the determination of the motion on notice.
On Monday some lawmakers served an impeachment notice on the state governor on allegations of diversion of state funds and abuse of office.
In today’s ruling, the judge stated that “The order restrained the Chief Judge of Benue state from receiving or acting on any process, request, issued pursuant to the purported sitting, proceedings and resolutions of July 30, 2018, aimed at or commenced for the purpose of removing the Governor of the State pending the determination of the motion on notice.”
She (Justice Igoche) upheld the subsisting order that was earlier given by Justice Adam Onum, Chief Judge of the state restraining the former speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, and other former principal officers from parading as same and ordered the security agencies to vacate the premises of the Benue State House of Assembly.
Responding, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael Gusa, commended the ruling saying as a law-abiding government, they will always seek redress in the law courts.
Also speaking, Sebastian Hon, (SAN) who appeared on behalf of the Plaintiffs alongside over 20 lawyers described the ruling as sound and promised to abide by the orders of the court.
The new Speaker of the Assembly, Titus Uba, said with the order, they expect the police and other security agencies to vacate the premises and stop interfering in their legislative business.
The applicants had on July 31st approached the Court, seeking eight reliefs amongst which were an interim order restraining the lawmakers from sitting, proceeding or acting in furtherance to the impeachment and the Chief Judge from acting on their request.
