Court Stops Benue’s New Speaker, Uba, Others From Sitting

Order Is Directed At Averting The Breach Of Law

The Makurdi High Court, on Monday restrained Titus Uba, the new speaker and other principal officers of the Benue House of Assembly from carrying out official duties.

They were further stopped from entering the house and sitting in the state assembly complex.

Other principal officers of the house restrained are the Deputy Speaker, Johnson Ahubi; majority leader, Avine Agbom; Deputy Majority Leader, Sule Audu; and Chief Whip, Kester Kyenge.

Giving the restraining order on a motion ex-parte brought by the impeached speaker, Terkibir Ikyange, Justice Theresa Igoche said ‘the order is made in the overall interest of justice.’

She said, “I have looked at paragraphs 22-34 of the affidavit in support and paragraphs 5-13 of the affidavit of urgency.

“This court takes judicial notice of the order of interim injunction made against the plaintiffs/applicants in Suit No. MHC/259/18.

“It is similar to the relief being sought here. It is my view that it is necessary for the purpose of averting any danger that may be caused and to avoid any breach of the peace.”

She added, “That this application be granted so that the members of the Benue State House of Assembly will not sit in the 5th plaintiffs/applicants complex until the motion on notice is heard and determined.

“This order is made in the overall interest of justice.”

Recall that Uba had last week took over the assembly complex after the withdrawal of policemen from the complex.

The reliefs sought by Kiang’s lawyer, Chief M Osuman, SAN, are an order restraining the 1-5 defendants from conducting the sitting of the fifth plaintiff, restraining same from carrying out any functions of the fifth plaintiff, restraining the defendants from further entry and occupying the offices of the 1-4 of the plaintiffs and restraining the defendants from entry and further entry into offices of 1-4 plaintiffs in the 5th plaintiffs complex pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

The plaintiffs are Rt Hon ‘Terkibir Ikyange (Speaker); Hon. James Okefe (deputy speaker) Hon Benjamin Adanyi (majority leader) Nick Eworo (deputy majority leader) all impeached and the Benue State House of Assembly.

Umahi made the declaration in Egunkwo community in the Onicha Local Government Area of the state on Sunday during a thanksgiving service in the state.