EDO ASSEMBLY CRISIS: Court bars NASS from interfering, orders Obaseki not to issue fresh proclamation

A Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the National Assembly from taking over the legislative functions of the Edo State House of Assembly.

The court also ordered the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, not to issue a fresh proclamation letter as directed by the Senate.

According to the court, the orders followed requests sought by the Deputy Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Hon. Yekini Idiaye; and the member representing Ikpoba-Okha Constituency in the Edo Assembly, Hon. Henry Okhuarobo, who are the plaintiffs/applicants.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, their servants, agents, officers or privies have all been restrained from interfering in the legislative functions of the Edo State House of Assembly.

Moreso, the court granted an order restraining the Inspector General of Police and the State Security Service, their servants, agents, officers or privies from sealing up the Edo State House of Assembly, or obstructing activities at the Edo Assembly.

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The plaintiffs had prayed the court in Suit Number FHC/PH/CS/159/2019, to restrain the Clerk of the National Assembly; the President of the Senate; the speaker of the House of Representatives; Inspector General of Police and the State Security Service; ( all defendants) from taking over the duties of the Edo House of Assembly.

In an order paper made available to journalists on Saturday, the court said: “The plaintiffs/applicants are granted an order of interim injunction, restraining the 1st-3rd Defendant/Respondents (Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives), their servant, agents, officers or privies from interfering or taking over the legislative functions of the Edo State House of Assembly pending the determination of the substantive suit.”

The court also granted “an order of interim injunction restraining the 4th-5th Defendant/Respondents(Inspector General of Police and the State Security Service), their servant, agents, officers or privies from sealing up the Edo State House of Assembly or obstructing the Plaintiffs/Applicants in whatever manners in the performance of their constitutional duties as members of the Edo State House of Assembly, pending the determination of the substantive suit.

“The Plaintiffs/Applicants are granted an order of interim injunction restraining the 6thDefendant/Respondent (the Governor of Edo State) from issuing any fresh proclamation for the holding of another first session for the Edo State House of Assembly pending the hearing and the determination of the substantive suit.”

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