The Legal Department of the National Assembly, has disclosed that Senate President, Bukola Saraki, will not obey any court order, mandating him to swear-in Hon. Bassey Etim, following a judgment of the Federal High Court, Uyo, that he is the rightful winner of the Akwa Ibom North-East Senatorial seat.
The National Assembly’s position, came on the heels of the letter written by the Presidency, through the Attorney General of the Federation, AGF, and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, to Saraki, over the delay in swearing- in Bassey.
At present, the seat is still being occupied at the Senate, by Senator Bassey Albert Akpan, who has since filed an appeal against the execution of the judgment.
The official position of the Senate is however, based on the advise of the Legal Department of the National Assembly.
The Chief Litigation Officer, Charles Yoila, in a memo addressed to the Director of Litigation and Counselling, advised that the Senate President, awaits further details on the matter, before taking further steps.
“You may wish to advise that the status quo be maintained by all stakeholders and parties, pending the hearing of the Motion On Notice for mandatory injunction, and stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Uyo”, the memo read.
Yoila, further noted that though the National Assembly is not a party to the appeal, it has to respect the fact that there is a pending motion on notice, praying for an order of mandatory injunction, an order setting aside the Certificate of Return issued to Hon. Bassey Etim, and an order staying execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Uyo.
“It is trite law that once an application has been filed for an inductive relief, all steps should be taken, to ensure the status quo (position of things at the time of the appeal or suit), are maintained by parties or persons out in notice of the Application”, the memo read.
Sources however, disclosed that Etim’s confrontational stance against the National Assembly, is not helping his case.
“Rather than engage the leadership, Etim has been fighting from the outside with Lawyers, who have been making inciting statements against the institution of the National Assembly, and against Saraki himself”, a source said.
