In recent times, the River State House of Assembly has been engulfed in a significant crisis. At the centre of this turmoil is Samuel Ogeh, a former member of the River State House of Assembly. His insights provide a crucial understanding of the unfolding events and the implications for suspended members. Ogeh's statements underscore the gravity of the situation, drawing attention to the legal and constitutional matters at play.
Samuel Ogeh has been vocal about the recent developments, particularly regarding the suspension of certain Assembly members. He argues that once a member is suspended, they no longer have any business with the House of Assembly. This position has sparked widespread debate and brought the legislative body's disciplinary powers into sharp focus.
Ogeh's stance is clear and unequivocal: "Once you are suspended, you don't have any business with the House of Assembly." He further elaborates, "Look, you shouldn't have given the injunction in the first place because you do not have the powers to do so." According to him, the constitutionality of the actions taken by the Assembly must be upheld. "It is a constitutional matter. If you do anything without jurisdiction, our law, and the professor will confirm this, is that everything you have done outside jurisdiction is null. That's what the court said."
The former member delves deeper into the issue by addressing the claims of Oko Jumbo, who has purportedly assumed the position of speaker. "Now, if Oko Jumbo has come to say, 'Look, I am the speaker,' and of course, we know he's not the speaker. I would tell you, we have the background to this." Ogeh recalls that "about December last year, the River State House of Assembly suspended about three or four members of the House deriving their powers from the legislative houses' powers and privileges act of 2018. It empowers the house to discipline a member. In the exercise of that power assigned to them, they suspended these persons."
Ogeh's argument highlights the legislative authority's power to enforce discipline and maintain order within its ranks. He concludes by reinforcing the legitimacy of the suspensions: "As far as the House of Assembly is concerned, oko and his colleagues who are suspended remain suspended."
Through Ogeh's statements, it is evident that the River State House of Assembly is facing a challenging period. The situation underscores the importance of adhering to constitutional provisions and the legislative framework that governs the Assembly's operations. As the crisis continues to unfold, the emphasis on legal processes and the authority of the House remains a pivotal aspect of the discourse.
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