By Abasi Ita, Calabar
Confusion galore has enveloped the 10th Cross River state House of Assembly as a High Court sitting in Calabar and presided over by DrJustice Emmanuel Abua has upheld the impeachment of the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem.
The new twist has escalated the controversy trailing the earlier impeachment of Cross River state House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Elvert Ayambem, as the presiding judge, Justice Emmanuel Abua ruled that the Speaker was validly removed from office in line with established parliamentary procedures.
Summit Post News recalls that on May 22,2024, 17 out of the 25 members of the Assembly had passed a vote of no confidence on Mr. Ayambem, citing alleged gross abuse of office and administrative high-handedness.
Almost w week later, and after the intervention of Governor Bassey Otu, a statement endorsed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Otu, Nsa Gill, had announced the reinstatement of the Speaker, attributing the development to amicable resolution of grievances which necessitated his earlier impeachment by the Governor.
Miffed by the development, a group of lawyers led by Raymond Manga, Esq had approached the court questioning the process of reinstating the speaker whom they claimed was validly removed, describing the process of his reinstatement as flagrant disregard to legislative procedures which smacks of undue executive interference.
The case has Raymond Manga, Esq, as claimant/responder and Cross River State House of Assembly (first defendant), the Clerk, Kate Ubi, Esq (second defendant) Mr. Ayambem (3rd defendant), his Deputy Sylvanus Agabi (4th defendant) and 25 others.
Ruling on the matter today Thursday, July 25, 2024, the Court also held that the Claimant in Suit number HC/143/2024, Raymond Manga, Esq, lacked the locus standing to institute the matter.
Reacting to the ruling, Raymond Manga, Esq, said from the judgment, Ayambem is no longer the Speaker of the House.
On the contention issue that he lacked the locus standing to institute the case, Manga said he would be heading to the Appeal Court for a superior decision.