Cross River Govt Appeals Court Judgment Sacking 20 Lawmakers Over Defection To APC

Cross River State Government has filed a suit at the Court of Appeal in Abuja to challenge the judgment of a Federal High Court, Abuja, which sacked 20 lawmakers for defecting to the All Progressive Congress (APC).

KanyiDaily recalls that on March 21, a federal high court in Abuja sacked two House of Representatives members and 18 Cross River House of Assembly over their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling APC.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, who delivered the judgment following a suit filed by the PDP, held that that the lawmakers should vacate their seats, having abandoned the political party that brought them to power.

The affected lawmakers are Michael Etaba (house of representatives), Legor Idagbor (house of representatives), Eteng Jonah William, Joseph A. Bassey, Odey Peter Agbe, Okon E. Ephraim, Regina L. Anyogo, Matthew S. Olory, Ekpo Ekpo Bassey, Ogbor Ogbor Udop and Ekpe Charles Okon.

Others are Hillary Ekpang Bisong, Francis B. Asuquo, Elvert Ayambem, Davis Etta, Sunday U. Achunekan, Cynthia Nkasi, Edward Ajang, Chris Nja-Mbu Ogar and Maria Akwaji.

Cross River Lawmakers Appeal Court Judgment

In a statement on Tuesday, March 22, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Christian Ita, said the government filed the appeal on Monday on behalf of the lawmakers.

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

“Also, a motion for a stay of execution of the Federal High Court has been filed. Both processes were filed by renowned constitutional lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome.

“Following the filing of the two processes, automatically the orders of the lower court are stayed. Consequently, the APC members in both the National Assembly and the Cross River State House of Assembly should go about their duties freely.”

KanyiDaily recalls that the federal high court in Abuja also sacked Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi, his deputy, Eric Kelechi Igwe, and 16 lawmakers, earlier this month.