BENIN CITY - The Chairman of Egor Local Government Council, Hon. Crosby Osadolor Eribo, has declared that the suspension clamped on him by the Edo State House of Assembly is unconstitutional, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
Addressing newsmen in his office yesterday, Hon. Eribo gave the genesis of events that led to his purported suspension from office for a period of two months by the state legislature.
He explained that by the judgment of the Local Government Appeal Court Tribunal of August 1, 2008, he was made the lawful Chairman of Egor Local Government Council adding that thereafter, he was invited by the Edo State House of Assembly to explain among other things, reasons why he should not be sanctioned on the removal of one Hon. Kingsley Igbe who served as vice chairman under the ousted administration.
Hon. Eribo stated that he responded accordingly to the queries, pointing out that he was sworn-in as the local government chairman alongside with the vice chairman, Hon. Nomuovbiekpen Igbinosun, by the executive governor of the state, and that the vice chairman was nominated by the party.
He further pointed out that on Friday, October 3, 2008, a mutinous crowd led by Hon. Kingsley Igbe invaded the council secretariat to install himself as the vice-chairman of the local government, on the strength of a resolution passed by the state House of Assembly, an action he said, the state House of Assembly had been restrained from doing by a competent court in Edo State on October 2, 2008.
Hon. Eribo stated that as the Chief Security Officer of Egor Local Government Council, he alerted the police who in turn, responded swiftly and made some arrests as well as recovered arms and ammunition used by the invaders.
He said those arrested had been arraigned before a Benin Court and were in prison custody.
Hon Eribo said he went to the House of Assembly on October 6, 2008 and was informed that he could not address the parliament as he had been suspended form office, together with the two contending vice chairmen.
He added that his official vehicles were also impounded inside the Assembly complex.
Hon. Eribo said he found the action of the House of Assembly ‘Preposterous and unconstitutional,” adding that the 1999 constitution had no provision that allowed the House to suspend a local government chairman to enable it investigate his activities in the local government area.
While urging the House to reconsider its decision Hon. Eribo declared that he remained the chairman of the council and would adhere strictly to the principles of fair hearing and the rule of law at all times.
Present during the press briefing were PDP leaders in Egor Local Government Area.
Meanwhile, the Edo State House of Assembly has vowed to issue a warrant of arrest on the Chairman of Egor Local Government Council, Hon. Crosby Eribo should he insist on flouting the resolution of the Parliament over his suspension.
Hon. Eribo was suspended by the House on Monday following the fracas that erupted at the Egor Council Secretariat on Friday when Hon. Kingsley Igbe arrived the place to assume duty as the duly elected vice chairman of the council.
Consequently, The House, at its executive session yesterday resolved that all financial institutions in the state that had dealing to do with the council area should not honour cheques issued by the suspended chairman.
Similarly, the house directed that the head of Service of the council and all contractors handling various projects in the place should liaise with the acting chairman, Hon. Bright Omoriyekemwen while the suspension order lasts.
Parliament’s decision which was read by the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Zakawanu Garuba, further warned that if Hon. Eribo failed to respect himself, the House would be tempted to invoke the relevant section of the state local government Amendment law to effect an out-right removal of the council boss.
The Speaker further reiterated that the parliament had the responsibility to deal with anybody acting as obstacle to the assumption of duties by the Acting Chairman of the council, adding that the Ad-hoc Committee set up by the House to investigate the mayhem that erupted in the council should take steps to invite Hon. Eribo to appear before it and also to explain whether it was true that he resumed his office after he was suspended.
Earlier, Hon. Bright Omoriyekemwen told the House upon is appearance to inform the Parliament of the level of compliance of its resolution, that the suspended chairman had refused to vacate his office as directed by the House.
He further stated that when he attempted to resume office yesterday (Tuesday) as the Acting Council boss, he was told that the suspended chairman had taken over the council secretariat with thugs numbering over 200 and armed police personnel.
Having listened to the complaint the Speaker thereafter directed the sgt-at-arm to release the two official cars’‘impounded by the House upon the suspension of Hon. Crosby Eribo to Hon. Bright Omoriyekemwen, just as the Speaker directed that the state Police Commissioner should see him immediately in his office after sitting, for the purpose of providing security for the Ag. Chairman.
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