Crises: National Assembly Orders Police IG to Close Down Kogi Assembly
After settling on plans to take over the functions of Kogi State House of Assembly, the Senate has today concurred with the House of Representative on the resolution.
The National Assembly has therefore asked the Inspector General of Police (IG), Solomon Arase, to shut down the state legislative assembly until the crisis which engulfed it is amicably resolved.
The House of Representatives, on March 8, resolved to take over the activities of the Kogi assembly after a committee it initially set up to mediate in the crisis which resulted in the impeachment of the state Speaker, Lawal Momoh Jimoh, by five of its 20 members failed.
Although legislators of the state assembly had vehemently resisted the move.
The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, who moved the motion, said the trend of events in Kogi State House of Assembly had shown clearly that the legislative house could no longer perform its responsibilities.
According to him, the move to take over the legislative house was in accordance with Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution which he said empowered the National Assembly to take over any house of assembly that could no longer perform its responsibilities.
The Senate also declared the impeachment of the Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Momoh Jimoh Lawal, by five of the 20-member house null and void just as it condemned the roles allegedly played by the police in subverting the constitution.
Accordingly, Ndume noted that: "In view of the fact that the Kogi State House of Assembly cannot perform its legislative functions due to intractable crises and volatile security situation in the state, National Assembly hereby invoke the powers conferred on it by Section 11(4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to take over the legislative functions of the state house of assembly pending the restoration of normalcy in the assembly.
"The Senate declares that the impeachment proceedings embarked upon by five members of the Kogi State House of Assembly is null and void. The Senate condemns the role played by the Nigerian Police in subverting the provisions of the constitution by providing cover for only five members out of 20 members of Kogi State House of Assembly to commit illegalities.
"The Senate directs the IG to seal the state House of Assembly complex until the matter is settled."
However, Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye, made an attempt to stop the move, pointing out that since the matter had become a subject of litigation, it was only right for the Senate to wait until the case in court is fully determined.
But Saraki dismissed Melaye's claim, saying the issue under consideration was not a petition but rather a matter referred to the Senate for concurrence from the House of Representatives. He explained that the Senate had the power to act on the matter without prejudice.
Hence, the resolution was passed with overwhelming support by senators with only a dissenting voice from Melaye.
Comments