Edo Assembly Crisis: I Am Not Aware Of Any Misconduct We Are Accused Of – Lawmaker

ne of the suspended lawmakers in Edo State House of Assembly, Honourable Friday Ogieriakhi, of the People Democratic Party (PDP), says he is not aware of the alleged misconduct they were accused of that led to their suspension, insisting that they should have been given fair hearing.
Mr Ogieriakhi told Channels Television on Sunday that the suspension was unexpected and described it as a development that had showed the monstrosity of the kind of tyranny that the state lawmakers were dealing with in Edo State under the leadership of the governor, Adams Oshiomhole.
“It is so unfortunate that lawmakers, because of loyalty to party, would lend themselves to this kind of shame. For you to punish a man, the man should be given fair hearing. No form of trial or hearing was given to my colleagues and I who were allegedly suspended.
“For all we know, these honourable members were just acting out the script of their pay master who is in Osadebe Avenue. I am not aware of any misconduct we were accused of,” he said.
He pointed out that the house had returned from recess without formal proceeding before they were suspended.
Mr Ogieriakhi stressed that the ‘Order 38′ that the House had relied on in suspending them provided that the suspended members ought to be present before the House and carrying out the misconduct before the leadership of the house.
“None of us was present on that day that the suspension was carried out,” he stressed.
However, an All Progressive Congress’ member of the House, Honourable Paul Ohonbamu, insisted that the assembly followed due process in the suspension of the members.
“Those involved know that they entered an enterprise of honourable consequence and we cannot fold our arms,” he said.
After the lawmakers were suspended, the suspended lawmakers and five other members of the House held a session and suspended the speaker of the House and some other members of the house; a development that Mr Ohonbamu said was an act of lawlessness.
He insisted that the issue of fair hearing would come up when they face the disciplinary committee.
“They were suspended for misconduct. Virtually all of them were engaged in some activities and we have the right to suspend any lawmaker on ground of misconduct and it behoves on such lawmaker to obey such suspension.
“They refused to obey the suspension and we went to court to get a court order restraining them from the premises of the House of Assembly and they also refused to obey the court order.
“The issue is already in court and for some members to refuse to accept their suspension from the Assembly we know that the effect will be expensive in terms of human life. We have been on the part of justice. We must engage the rule of law, we must protect and preserve democracy,” Honourbale Ohonbamu insisted.
The crisis has caused the state assembly to stop the process of law making, but Mr Ogieriakhi said that the way forward would be for the other house members to purge themselves of the very disrespectful conduct that they embarked upon.
“What they should do is to repent and return the house to the position the House was before they recess,” he said.