Sacked lawmakers from Cross River State go on appeal

The 20 lawmakers – two members of the House of Representatives and 18 others from the State House of Assembly – from Cross River State, sacked on Monday by the Federal High Court, Abuja, have appealed their removal from office.

The appeal was filed Monday by their lawyer, Mike Ozekhome SAN.

Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Christian Ita, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

“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 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has been filed at the Court of Appeal, Abuja,” he said.

“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.”

READ: Umahi, deputy appeal court judgment sacking them from office

The Federal High Court, Abuja, sacked the lawmakers for unlawful defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

The affected lawmakers are Michael Etaba, Legor Idagbor, 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. In opposing the suit, Mike Ozekhome, counsel to the 4th-25th defendants, had challenged the court’s jurisdiction to hear the suit.