Court stops National Assembly from taking over Edo Assembly

A Federal High Court in Port Harcourt has restrained the National Assembly, the police and the Directorate of Security Services from interfering,  sealing up or taking over the legislative function of the Edo State House of Assembly.

The court, presided over by Justice Adamu Turaki Mohammed, also restrained Edo  State Governor Godwin Obaseki from issuing a fresh proclamation letter as directed by the Senate.

It also  granted an order restraining the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service, their servants, agents, officers or privies from sealing up the Edo State House of Assembly or obstructing activities at the assembly.

The orders followed the requests sought by the Deputy Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Yekini Idiaye and the member representing Ikpoba-Okha Constituency in the Edo Assembly, Henry Okhuarobo.

The plaintiffs had prayed the court  to restrain the Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate; the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service from taking over the duties of the state assembly.

The court also granted an order of interim injunction restraining the defendants their servant, agents, officers or privies from sealing up the state assembly or obstructing the plaintiffs in whatever manners in the performance of their constitutional duties as members of the Edo State House of Assembly, pending the determination of the substantive suit.