Sack judgement: Police take over Cross River House of Assembly

The Nigeria Police Force has seized control of the Cross River House of Assembly, reportedly as a result of the Abuja High Court’s decision on Monday to expel two House of Representatives members and 18 Assembly members.

All approaches leading to the Assembly were shut early Tuesday, and other police detachments were stationed within the main building.

Motorists and observers struggled to get past the mob of security officers, their vans, and other onlookers.

The purpose of the roadblock, according to Cross River Police Public Relations Officer Irene Ugbo, is to preserve peace and order after Monday’s Federal High Court Abuja judgment that dismissed certain members of the House of Assembly.

In a suit no: ABJ/FHC/CS/976/21, Justice Taiwo Taiwo granted the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) petitions for the declaration of those MPs’ seats vacant for defecting from the PDP to the APC.

A’stay of execution’ and an appeal against the judgment have been lodged, according to a news statement signed by Governor Ben Ayade’s Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita.

“This is to inform members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly from Cross River State, members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, and the general public that an appeal has been filed at the Court of Appeal in Abuja against the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.”

“In addition, the Federal High Court has filed a request for a stay of execution.” Chief Mike Ozekhome, a famous constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed both proceedings.

“When the two procedures are filed, the lower court’s orders are immediately stayed.” As a result, APC members in the National Assembly and the Cross River State House of Assembly should be free to carry out their responsibilities,” Ita stated.