Big blow for Edo PDP legislators as Appeal Court dismisses their appeal

Posted by Nelson Dafe, Benin City | 11 July 2014 | 3,599 times

A Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Benin City yesterday dismissed the appeal brought before it by the four suspended members of the Edo State house of assembly.

The members led by Deputy Speaker Festus Ebea had sought a stay of action order from the court while seeking to set aside an earlier ruling by a Benin City High Court which restrains them from the precincts of the House of Assembly Complex.

The appeal court stated that the affected legislators, of the opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP), do not have the right to seek a stay of the high court ruling, while they face contempt of court charges.

It was the appellate court’s argument that the suspended legislators should have obeyed the order of the high court while seeking relief from the same court on the matter for which they were suspended. The appeal court frowned at their disobedience of the orders of a court of competent jurisdiction.

News Express recalls that the suspended legislators had refused to obey the order restraining them from attending plenary some weeks ago.

The result has been a deeply fractured House, as skirmishes between them and the majority All Progressives Congress (APC) legislators have led to both camps holding parallel legislative sittings.

•Photo shows Edo State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Uyi Igbe.

Source: News Express