Court reinstates impeached Ebonyi Assembly deputy speaker, two other legislators

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, Wednesday, restated Hon Odefa Obasi Odefa representing Onicha East State Constituency, as the Deputy Speaker of Ebonyi State House of Assembly.

The Court, presided over by Justice I. E. Ekwo, also restored the seats of Odefa and two other Lawmakers, Ngọzi Eziụlọ representing Afikpo North East and Oliver Osi, representing Ivo State Constituency.

The Court’s order followed a motion ex parte dated 24th February, 2022, and filled by the trio as plaintiffs against the declaration of their seats vacant and removal of Mr Odefa as Deputy Speaker by the State House of Assembly, last month.

It further barred the House of Assembly the Speaker, and the Clerk from carrying out any action that would affect the membership of the three lawmakers.

The House had last month declared the seat of Odefa and the two other Lawmakers vacant.

The Assembly claimed Odefa wrote a letter resigning His membership of the House; an allegation Odefa denied.

The House also elected Ogbonnaya Ịkọrọ as the new deputy speaker.

The House also declared vacant the seats of the two other Lawmakers, Oliver Osi and Ngozi Eziulo for accusing the House of forgery.

The House Speaker, Francis Nwifuru had read during plenary defection letters allegedly tendered by the two lawmakers notifying the House of their defection from their party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

But the two lawmakers denied defecting to the APC.

The Ebonyi House of Assembly, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Clerk, the House and Mr Ịkọrọ were joined in the suit as 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th respondents, respectively.

Other respondents include the INEC, Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police and the Department of state Security as 1st to 4th respondents.

The Court barred the defendants from effecting any change to the status of the trio pending the determination of the motion on notice.

The court further ordered all parties in the matter to maintain the status quo that hitherto existed before the House took the controversial decisions against the trio last month.

“An Interim Order of this Honourable Court restraining the defendants, especially the 5th to 8th defendants, ether by themselves, their servants, assigns or privies or otherwise howsoever from taking any other or further steps as it relates to the entire circumstances of this matter and or from disturbing the plaintiffs’ membership of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice.

“An order of this Honourable Court directing parties in this suit to maintain the status quo ante bellum that existed on the 18th day of February 2022 pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice already pending before this Honourable Court”, Justice Ekwo ordered.