The Presidency, through the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has written a letter to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to immediately obey a court order, and swear-in Bassey Etim, who won at the Supreme Court, against Bassey Akpan of the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial District.
This shocking order, came barely 48-hours, after a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Ikechukwu Ezechukwu, had called for the swearing-in of all Senators who have won elections in several courts in Nigeria.
He said the refusal by Saraki to swear in the individual who has won at the Apex court is tantamount to disobedience of court order.
Reacting to the rulings of the courts, the Attorney General of the Federation and the Minister of Justice, wrote a letter to the Senate President.
Malami in his letter referenced MJ/LIT/ABJ/MOC/112/17, called on Saraki to honour the judgement of the Federal High Court, sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
He also urged the Senate President to swear-in Etim as the Senator representing Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial District, at the Eight Senate, with immediate effect.
The letter reads in part: “The Senate of NASS is therefore, required to comply with the judgment in suit no FHC/UY/CS/1087/2015, between Hon. Bassey Etim and Peoples Democratic Party & 2 others, by swearing in Hon. Bassey Etim, as the Senator representing Akwa-Ibom North-East Senatorial District, in the Senate of the NASS.”
Post-Nigeria could recall, that a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, had ordered Bassey Akpan to vacate his seat as the Senator representing Akwa Ibom North-East.
The court in its ruling on February 17, said Akpan should vacate immediately, while the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, withdraws the certificate of return issued to him.
The court also awarded a N200,000 fine, in favour of the plaintiff, Bassey Etim, who will take over the Senatorial seat from Akpan.
All efforts made by Post-Nigeria to get the reaction of the Senate President through his Media Aides, proved abortive.
