Senate gives nod to Reps’ takeover of Kogi Assembly

From Fred Itua, Abuja Senate, yesterday, approved last week’s resolution of the House of Representatives to take over legislative functions of the crisis-ridden Kogi State House of Assembly. The Senate also adopted the House of Representatives’ resolution declaring null and void, the impeachment of the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Mr. Momoh Jimoh-Lawal, by five members of the state of Assembly. The Red Chamber condemned the role played by the Nigeria Police in subverting the provisions of the constitution by providing cover for only five members out of the 20 lawmakers in the state, to commit illegality. In line with the position of the House of Representatives, the Senate directed the Inspector-General of Police to seal-off the Kogi State House of Assembly complex until the matter is finally resolved. The House of Representatives on Wednesday last week, took over the Kogi State House of Assembly. The development followed the crisis in the Assembly over the impeachment of its speaker. The House of Representatives went a step further to take over the Kogi Assembly in compliance with Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). It took the decision after considering and approving the report of a 10-member investigative panel headed by the Deputy House Whip, Mr. Pally Iriase, to intervene. The Senate is expected to uphold the resolution of the House to bring it in compliance with the constitutional provision requiring the National Assembly to effect the takeover in line with Section 11(4) of the Constitution. Five members of the Kogi Assembly had purportedly impeached the Speaker, Lawal and elected Umar Imam as new speaker. The ‘impeached’ speaker, and 14 other members of the Assembly had in mid February, petitioned the House of Representatives, seeking the latter’ intervention in the brewing crisis. The Kogi lawmakers had submitted the petition t the House of Representatives’ Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, for transmission to the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara