. AGF’s letter resulted in breakdown of law and order, says Speaker Okiye
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to provide security for the inauguration of the 14-members-elect and three other members of the Edo State House of Assembly, First News has learnt.
In a letter dated August 5, 2020 with reference number HAGF/IGP/2020/Vol1/4, the AGF also requested the IGP to provide security for the subsequent sittings of the lawmakers.
Malami said his intervention was to enable the lawmakers to hold plenary within the Assembly complex.
The AGF’s letter read, “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.
“In view of the foregoing 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.”
On Thursday, the Edo State House of Assembly Complex was besieged by armed security personnel, causing tension in Benin, the state capital.
The 17 lawmakers later gathered in an unknown location to carry out the inauguration.
The Assembly’s Deputy Clerk, Mr Tom Efezokhae, was said to have administered the oath
Only 10 out of the 24-member Assembly were inaugurated on June 17, 2019, following the proclamation issued by the Governor.
The speaker of the 10-member Assembly, Frank Okiye, later declared the seats of the 14 members vacant.
Following the new inauguration on Thursday, Okiye and his deputy, Rolland Asoro, were impeached during the sitting, presided over by the new speaker elected by the 17 members, Victor Edoror.
But in a letter dated August 6, Frank Okiye, Speaker of the Edo Assembly, protested the decision of the minister.
He argued that Malami’s letter resulted in a breakdown of law and order in the state.
Okiye stated that there were still pending court cases on the matter involving the lawmakers, and as a result, Malami’s intervention would be a “grievous assault” on the rule of law.
Okiye said, “I am reluctant to conclude that the breath-taking 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.
“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.”
The speaker 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.
He said, “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.
“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.”