The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, may
swear in Mrs. Dorothy Mato, as the replacement for sacked member
representing Vandeikya/Konshisha Federal Constituency of Benue State,
Herman Hembe, tomorrow...
Dogara’s action is being prompted by the displeasure which the
Supreme Court expressed over the reluctance of the leadership of the
House to swear in Mrs. Dorothy Mato as Hembe’s replacement.
It was learnt at the weekend that Dogara was set to comply with the
apex court’s judgement to ensure harmony between the Legislature and
the Judiciary.
Hembe was sacked by the Supreme Court on June 23, 2017 for not the
proper candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the last
National Assembly election in Benue State.
He was asked to vacate his seat and refund all the remunerations that had accrued to him since he was sworn-in.
The apex court also ordered the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) to immediately withdraw the certificate of return
issued to Hembe and issue same to Mato, and directed Dogara to
administer the oath on Mato as the new lawmaker.
Curiously, since the June 23 ruling, Mrs. Mato was not sworn in by
Dogara despite her repeated appearances at plenary sequel to the court
ruling.
However, in a surprise twist, the former Chairman of the House
Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) filed a motion on
notice dated July 18, 2017 at the Supreme Court asking it to reverse the
judgement.
According to him, the judgement was done “in error arising from an accidental slip.”
But, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen in a
September 20, 2017 ruling on the issue insisted that as the apex court
of the country, it cannot reverse itself on the matter.
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