The House of Representatives on Wednesday took over the Kogi State House of Assembly.
The development followed the crisis in the Assembly over the impeachment of its Speaker, Mr. Momoh Jimoh-Lawal.
The House also directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to send policemen to Lokoja and to seal off the Assembly complex.
The House added that the policemen from Abuja should take over the security of the Assembly complex and its environs from policemen deployed in the area by the Kogi State Police Command.
Five out of 20 lawmakers had on February 16 announced the removal of Jimoh-Lawal on the grounds that he managed the affairs of the legislature like his personal estate.
But, the House of Representatives, which had earlier described the action of the five members as “unconstitutional”, went a step further to take over the Assembly on Wednesday in compliance with Section 11(4) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The House took the decision after considering and approving the report of a 10-member investigative panel it set up to intervene.
The panel, headed by the Deputy House Whip, Mr. Pally Iriase, had recommended the takeover of the Assembly.
The report noted, “Kogi State House of Assembly cannot perform its function due to intractable crises and the volatile security situation in the state.”
Members at the session, which was presided over by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yussuff Lasun, endorsed the recommendation to assume control of the Kogi Assembly.
The Senate is expected to uphold the resolution of the House to bring it in compliance with the constitutional provision requiring the “National Assembly “ to effect the takeover.
Section 11(4) reads, “At any time when any House of Assembly of a state is unable to perform its functions by reason of the situation prevailing in that state, the National Assembly may make such laws for the peace, order and good government of that state with respect to matters on which a House of Assembly may make laws as may appear to the National Assembly to be necessary or expedient until such time as the House of Assembly is able to resume its functions; and any such laws enacted by the National Assembly pursuant to this section shall have effect as if they were laws enacted by the House of Assembly of the State…”
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