A Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Theresa Igoche, has retrained the eight suspended members of the Benue State House of Assembly from proceeding with the impeachment process they initiated on the Governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom.
The judge also restrained them from sitting and upheld their suspension pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
“I agree with the Senior Advocate of Nigeria that the applicants have made out a case for the grant of orders sought therein,” She stressed.
“The order also restrains the Chief Judge of Benue state from receiving or acting on any process or request, issued pursuant to the purported sitting, proceedings and resolutions of 30th July, 2018 aimed at or commenced for the purpose of removing the Governor of the State pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.”
Justice Igoche upheld the subsisting order that was earlier given by Justice Adam Onum, Chief Judge of the state restraining the former speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, and other former principal officers from parading as same and ordered the security agencies to vacate the premises of the Benue State house of Assembly.
Responding, State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Michael Gusa, applauded the ruling saying as a law abiding government, they will always seek redress in the law courts.
Also speaking, Sebastian Hon, SAN, who appeared on behalf of the Plaintiffs alongside 30 lawyers described the ruling as sound and promised to abide by the orders of the court to ensure service o and continue with the case.
Speaker of the Assembly, Honourable Titus Uba, said with the order, they expect the police and other security agencies to vacate the premises and stop interfering in their legislative business maintaining that even the President of Country has denied link to the continued occupation of the Assembly complex.
The applicants had on the 31st of July, approached the Court, seeking eight reliefs amongst which were interim order restraining the eight members from sitting, proceeding and or acting in furtherance to the impeachment and the Chief Judge from acting on their request.
