There is mounting fear and tension in Edo state as seven lawmakers said to be loyalists to Governor Godwin Obaseki have been granted permission to serve an order of substituted service to the other 17 lawmakers said to be loyal to Adams Oshomhole.
The seven lawmakers had in a suit with number FHC/PH/CS/100/2020 asked the court to stop the police and attorney general of the federation Abubakar Malami to stop giving protection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers.
The plaintiffs also wanted the court to stop the 17 lawmakers from taking over the Edo state House of assembly Delivering his judgement on Friday, August 14, Justice I. M. Sani of the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt granted the substituted service of the originating summons and accompanying processes.
Recall that on Thursday, August 6, impeached the speaker of the House, Francis Okiye, and his deputy, Roland Asoro.
The said impeachment took place at a private location in Benin City hours after security officials took over the state assembly complex. Before the impeachment occurred, the 14 lawmakers-elect whose seats were previously declared vacant were first sworn in.
Then three other lawmakers who recently pledged their allegiance to Osagie Ize-Iyamu of the APC joined them in the impeachment proceedings against the speaker and his deputy.
The federal government has since ordered the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu to provide security for the 17 Edo APC lawmakers in the House.
As fear heightened ahead of the state governorship election slated for September 19, more shows of interest clash may emerge with the Port Harcourt court verdict.
Earlier, Anaedoonline.ng reported that seventeen lawmakers said to oppose to the reelection of Governor Godwin Obaseki insisted on holding sittings at the House of Assembly complex.
This followed after impeached speaker Frank Okiye posited that the take-over of the assembly by the APC-backed lawmakers is an act of illegality which cannot stand.
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