Gbajabiamila Still Hasn’t Sworn In Taraba Rep, One Month After Court Order

One month after a Federal High Court ordered his inauguration as the member representing Taraba State’s Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency, Garba Hamanjurde Chede has yet to be sworn in by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila.

It should be noted that the court, presided over by Justice Simon Akpah Amobeda, sacked Mubarak Gembo, the member representing the constituency in the National Assembly, in its September ruling.

It also ordered that the Certificate of Return issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the sacked lawmaker be withdrawn and issued to Chede.

Meanwhile, a letter to the Speaker dated September 28, 2021 and signed by Abdulhamid Mohammed, Chede’s lawyer, urged the speaker to follow the court’s decision to reinstate the lawmaker.

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Chede said yesterday that his lawyers were planning to file a contempt of court action against Gbajabiamila for failing to comply with the court’s ruling.

“Despite all the advice he has received, the speaker is adamant about swearing me in, citing someone in the Villa as the stumbling block.”

“The speaker also stated that it is the House’s culture to protect its members even if a court judgment is issued.” “I believe this is an extremely unfair and unjust posture, particularly for a legislative organ of the government,” he said.

The APC chieftain, who represented the constituency from 2015 to 2019, called the alleged refusal of the speaker to swear him in an affront to democracy.

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When contacted, Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia), spokesman for the House, said, “if the said person has received a certificate of return, the necessary steps will be taken when the House resumes plenary.”