Kwara Assembly urged to obey court order on suspended member

THE Kwara State House of Assembly has been called upon to implement the judgement of the High Court which nullified the suspension of a member representing Moro/Ipaye/Olooru constituency in the House, Hon. Iliasu Ibrahim.

   Counsel to Ibrahim, Mr. Abeny Mohammed (SAN) of A.O. Mohammed and Co. made the call in a letter written to Speaker of the House, Barrister Rasaq Atunwa, a copy of which was obtained by The Guardian.

   It would be recalled that Ibrahim, one of the two members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 24-member House of Assembly dominated by All Progressives Congress (APC) members, was suspended in 2012 and 2013.

   However, he challenged this decision at a state High Court in Ilorin where the court in a June 13, 2014 judgement declared his suspension as null and void and ordered his reinstatement as well as payment of all his entitlements within the time he was on suspension.

   But the House through its solicitors, Saka Isau and Co., filed an appeal for the stay of execution of the judgement.

   On December 22, 2014, the Court of Appeal Ilorin division dismissed the motion, clearing the way for him to resume and collect all his entitlements.

   Following the refusal of the House to implement the judgement, counsel to the lawmaker in a letter dated December 22, 2014 demanded the implementation of the court verdict by allowing its client to resume at the Assembly with immediate effect.

   “It is hoped that we will not be forced to enforce the judgment and other steps including contempt proceedings to embarrass Kwara State House of Assembly, the Speaker and members,” the letter read.

   However, the House through its counsel, Saka Isau and Co., said it had filed another motion for stay of execution of the judgement according to a reply sent to A.O Mohammed.

   The letter signed by Bolaji Omotola of Saka Isau and Co., said, “We urge you to kindly advise your client to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the aforementioned application before the Court of Appeal.”