Court orders NASS to stay action on Edo house of assembly takeover

Chidi Samuel|

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday ordered parties to a suit challenging the alleged plans by the National Assembly to take over the activities of the Edo State House of Assembly to stay action on the matter pending the determination of the substantive case.

The suit marked, FHC/ABJ/CS/815/2019 was filed by the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Francis Okiye, and it is aimed, among others, to stop the National Assembly from taking over the functions of the state Assembly.

In a ruling on Wednesday, Justice Taiwo Taiwo, gave the order for parties to maintain status-quo antebellum, while adjourning the hearing of the substantive suit until August 22, 2019.

Justice Taiwo, who refused to hear the motion for interlocutory injunction brought by the plaintiff, said the order was intended to prevent parties, particularly the respondents from foisting on the court a fait accompli.

It will be recalled the two chambers of the national assembly had given Godwin Obaseki, Edo governor, an ultimatum to issue a fresh proclamation for Edo assembly following the crisis rocking the state house of assembly.

But governor Obaseki has since refused to issue a fresh proclamation and is challenging the decision of the national assembly in court.