A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the reinstatement of Hon. Odefa Obasi as the Deputy Speaker of the Ebonyi state house of Assembly.
The court also ordered that two other members of the House of Assembly, Hon. Mrs. Ngozi Eziulo (Afikpo North/East) and Hon. Mrs Oliver Osi (Ivo) be reinstated with immediate effect.
In a suit marked No: FHC/ABJ/CS/223/2022, the court further restricted the house from carrying any action that will affect the membership of the trio.
The three lawmakers had approached the Abuja Division of the High Court to reclaim their seats and positions after the House of Assembly had declared their seats vacant over alleged resignation from their party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressive Congress, APC.
In the suit, The Ebonyi House of Assembly, the Speaker of the Assembly, the Clerk and Mr Ogbonna Ikoro(newly elected deputy speaker) were joined in the suit as 5th to 8th respondents.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Attorney General of the Federation, Inspector General of Police and the Department of State Services, DSS, as 1st to 4th respondents.
The Court, presided by Justice I. E. Ekwo ordered saying; “An Interim Order of this Honourable Court restraining the defendants, especially the fifth to eigth defendants, either by themselves, their servants, assigns or privies or otherwise howsoever from taking any other or further steps as it relates to the entire circumstances of this matter and or from disturbing the plaintiffs’ membership of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice”
“An order of this Honourable Court directing parties in this suit to maintain the status quo ante bellum that existed on the 18th day of February 2022 pending the hearing and final determination of the motion on notice already pending before this Honourable Court”, Justice Ekwo further ordered.”
The court adjourned the matter to 16th March 2022 for hearing.
