Alleged Impeachment Notice Unconstitutional, Null And Void – Ortom

…As 22 legislators loyal to Ortom suspend 7 others

BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State on Monday declared that an Assembly that was unable to form a quorum cannot meet the constitutional provisions of serving him with an impeachment notice.

Ortom, who stated this while reacting to report of an alleged impeachment notice served on him by eight members of the State House of Assembly, said it is not possible for few that could not constitute a quorum to serve him an impeachment notice.

They have not been able to form a quorum, so it is not possible, said his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.

Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, the governor said that only eight lawmakers served him with the notice, adding that even at that, two other members who were part of the Kangaroo sitting that was guided and guarded by the police were on his side.

In his words; “So, how can anybody call that an impeachment notice? It is laughable and must be ignored completely.

“And for the record, there is a court injunction restricting the impeached Speaker from parading himself as the Speaker of the House and that court injunction has not been vacated.

“The impeached Speaker has been suspended for six months. He does not have any constitutional right to go back to that Assembly. He has done nothing to vacate that injunction so whatever he did stands null and void.”

Akase said Governor Ortom remains the Chief Executive of the State, stressing that it is not possible to impeach a governor in a flash as there are constitutional processes that must be followed and adhered to.

The lawmakers that took part in the police guarded sitting and moved for the service of impeachment notice on Governor Ortom include; Hon Adanyi Benjamin, Nick Eworo, Benjamin Nungwa, Bem Mngutyo, Adams Okloho, Terhemba Chabo and James Okefe.  

It was gathered that the plot was coordinated by the former Speaker Hon Terkimbi Ikyange, who was sacked as Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly last week.

Meanwhile, 20 members of the Benue State House of Assembly has announced the immediate suspension of the seven of their colleagues that took part in what they described as a kangaroo seating that was aided by the Nigeria police for a period of six months.

The suspended members include; Hon Adanyi Benjamin, Terhemba Chabo, Benjamin Nungwa, Bem Mngutyo, Adams Okloho, James Okefe and Nick Eworo.

The suspension motion was moved by the Majority Leader of the House Hon Avine Agbom and was duly seconded by Hon. Ianna Jato. 

Forefront recalled that the former Speaker was impeached by 22 members that appended their signatures to the sack motion.

Similarly, a High Court sitting in Makurdi and presided over by Justice Adam Onum, who is also the Benue State Chief Judge last week issued an injunction restraining Hon Terkimbi Ikyange from parading himself as the Speaker of the State House of Assembly and ordered him to return all government property in his possession to the assembly.

The 22 members adjourned plenary to August 21, 2018.