By Ben Ogbemudia
The 14 members-elect of the Edo State House of Assembly yesterday petitioned the Clerk of the House, Alhaji Audu Omogbai, before the Code of Conduct Bureau to be formally inaugurated to represent their constituents.
In the petition signed by the 14 members titled: “Complaint of gross abuse of power and the precipitation of crisis at the Edo State House of Assembly by Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai, Clerk of the House, the lawmakers-elect said they have been denied their constitutional rights to represent their respective constituencies.
They said the situation had prevented their constituents from enjoying the benefits of their representation at the EDHA.
The petition which was presented before the Chairman, Prof Mohammed Isah, and members of the CCB board read in part, “Although, the Edo State House of Assembly was purportedly
“inaugurated” on the 17th of June 2019 by the Clerk of the House -Alhaji Audu Yahaya Omogbai, we were wrongfully and unconstitutionally excluded from the said inauguration.
“An act that has precipitated a constitutional crisis in the State where, the EDHA , contrary to the clear and unambiguous provisions of section 91 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), is presently constituted by a minority of 10 members to the exclusion of 14 members-who constitute the majority.
“Sir, our major complaint is that the present impasse at the EDHA was caused deliberately and mischievously by Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai- the current Clerk of the House. This is because he violently violated the provisions of Articles 1 and 9 of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers as contained in the 5th Schedule to the Constitution aforesaid.
“Specifically, Alhaji Audu Yahaya Omogbai in gross abuse of his office and powers as the Clerk of the EDHA, deliberately and mischievously concealed the material information as to the date, venue, and time of the inauguration of the 7th session of the EDHA from a majority of the then 15 members-elect of the House, whilst he conveyed this vital information to only seven members-elect of the EDHA, who at that material time was perceived to be loyal to the Governor of the State.
“This mischievous act of Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai led to the clandestine and nocturnal ‘inauguration’ of the EDHA at about 9.30 pm on the said 17th of June 2019 with only 7 (seven) out of the 24 members-elect of the House.
“Subsequently, Alhaji Yahaya Omogbai, in further abuse of his powers and apparent display of conflict of his interest with that of State and National Interest purportedly “presided” over the election of a Speaker and a Deputy-Speaker of the EDHA, from amongst the 7 minority members of the House present on that day and at his behest.
“Not done with this shenanigan, he assisted the “Speaker” of the EDHA to selectively and pejoratively “inaugurate” three other members-elect of the EDHA, who in their words “retraced” their steps and became “loyal’ to the governor of the state.
“Sir, whilst, we need not remind you about the provisions of Sections 1 and 9 of the Code of Conduct as revealed above, it is instructive that Alhaji Yahaya also abused his office by concealing the Assets Declaration Confirmation Slips submitted by the 14 of us member-elect, preparatory to our inauguration as members of the EDHA.
“This was ostensibly to lead credence to the already rehearsed narrative between him and his pay-masters, that the reason we (14 members-elect) were excluded from the inauguration of the House was that, we were yet to fill and submit our assets declaration forms. When this was patently a white lie.”
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They consequently requested that Omogbai be investigated by the CCB for gross abuse of his powers and apparent conflict of interest in the discharge of his constitutional duties as the Clerk of EDHA.
“We believe that his ignoble and uncharitable actions and inactions as outlined above is the immediate cause of the present crisis at the EDHA,” the aggrieved lawmakers said.
The petition was signed by Victor Sabor Edoror (Esan Central constituency), Crosby Eribo (Egor), Washington Osa Osifo (Uhunmwode), Christopher Ewere Okaeben (Oredo West), Seid Oshiomhole ( Etsako West), Michael Ohio Ezomo (Owan West), and Sunday Aghedo (Ovia South West).
Others are Ganiyu Audu (Etsako West), Dumez Ugiagbe (Ovia North East), Ahmed Oshomah (Etsako Central), Eric Okaka (Owan East), Vincent Uwadiae (Ovia North), Kingsley Ugabi (Etsako East) and Uyiosasere Ekhosuehi (Oredo East)
