6th July, 2012
Nnamdi Felix / Abuja
Eseme Eyibo who until Friday morning was the Nigerian House of Representative member representing Eket/Ibeno/Esit/Onna Federal Constituency, has been kicked out of the National Assembly by the Supreme Court. The court ordered that Mr. Dan Bassey-Abia be sworn in immediately as the validly nominated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and winner of the election to represent the constituency.
In the unanimous decision read by Justice John Fabiyi, the court agreed with the submissions of the lead Counsel for Mr. Bassey-Abia, Prince Lateef Fagbemi that Eyibo sneaked into the hallowed chambers of the National illegally and should immediately vacate the seat for the rightful winner of the elections.
Reacting to the decision of the Supreme court the Director General of the Dan Bassey Abia Campaign Organisation hailed the judgment of the court as a well thought out and considered judgment adding that they are dedicating the judgment to the Akwa-Ibom state Governor Obong Godswill Akpabio and the good people of the constituency.
The Court of Appeal Abuja Division, in its judgment in the appeal brought by Dan-Abia challenging the decision of the Federal High court in Abuja, had ordered Eyibo to immediately vacate the seat as it held that he actually sneaked into the hallowed chambers of the House.
The Court of Appeal Abuja Division had on January 27th in a unanimous judgment read by Justice Ejembi Eko ordered the House of Representatives to immediately swear-in Dan Bassey- Abia as the candidate of the PDP for Eket Federal Constituency.
The Appellate Court further held that the present occupant of the seat Eseme Eyibo having sneaked into the House illegally should immediately vacate the seat for the winner of the elections.
Eyibo had rushed to the Supreme Court to forestall his ouster from the House and had been there since the Court of Appeal’s decision until the apex court upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal ordering him to vacate the seat with immediate effect.