By EHIGIMETOR IGBAUGBA

The Cross River House of Assembly has reinstated its Speaker, Mr Elvert Anyambem, who was recently impeached on grounds of high-handedness and financial impropriety.

During the assembly’s sitting on Tuesday, Cyril Omini, representing Yakurr I constituency, moved a motion passing a vote of confidence on the speaker, which was supported by Kingsley Ntui, representing Etung constituency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that 17 out of the 25 members of the assembly signed the notice to impeach the speaker.

The members alleged that the speaker indulged in arbitrary expenditures in contravention of Section 9(1) of the state’s Legislative Funds Management Law, 2021.

NAN further reports that Gov. Bassey Out, on Monday, announced that he has brokered peace in the state assembly.

Out, who made the announcement in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Nsa Gil, said that normalcy had returned in the house.

“I had a closed-door meeting with all the twenty-five members of the assembly on Sunday night.

“They all unambiguously agreed to restore normalcy and maintain the status quo with Elvert Ayambem remaining as their speaker, the statement read in parts.

Also, in a statement in Calabar on Monday, Ayambem, had commended Out for wading into the recent crisis in the assembly.

In the statement signed by his Media Aide, Mr Mathew Okache, the speaker commended Out for showing extraordinary leadership prowess in the face of the challenge.

“I pledge my cooperation and commitment towards the growth and progress of both the assembly and the state as a whole,” the statement read. (NAN)