Lagos Assembly clashes with state Judicial Service Commission

Eromosele Ebhomele

Tension heightened at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday as many members of the House felt slighted by a letter written to the House by Lagos State Judicial Service Commission.

The letter was a reply to a motion moved some days ago by the House Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade, for the dissolution of the commission since their five-year tenure had ended.

The House had thereafter written to the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, following its resolution for the dissolution of the commission.

But in a reply from the commission read out at plenary by the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Ganiyu Abiru, members of the commission said their tenure had not ended and that they were sure the House came to its resolution based on the level of information available to the House members.

The members said in the letter that they their tenure had been renewed by the government.

Many of the lawmakers who spoke on the issue wondered how such tenure could be renewed without recourse to the House.

They thus summoned the state Head of Service, Mrs. Folashade Jaji, to appear before the House on Tuesday, 28 July to explain the reason for the elongation of the tenure of office for the members of the commission.

The House maintained that the continuation of tenure of office by members of the commission was a flagrant disregard for the provisions of Section 199 of the 1999 Constitution, which states that tenure of office of public officers should end automatically as at when due.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, said the Head of Service must be invited to educate the House on the process that was followed in renewing the tenure of the members of the commission.

He however added that the executive arm of government had not written a counter letter to the House resolution.

“The Head of Service should be invited tomorrow Tuesday, July 28 to appear before the House on the issue.

“It would also serve as a signal to other agencies and parastatals that once their tenure ends, they should leave office automatically,” Obasa said.

Speaking earlier, Oluyinka Ogundimu representing Agege Constituency 1 observed that the commission could not be a judge in its own case.

He said that the letter from the commission should have been from the Governor or the Head of Service maintaining that the resolution of the House on their tenure stands.

Lanre Ogunyemi from Ojo Constituency 2 supported Ogunyemi adding that the HOS must have acted in co-operation with some higher authorities on the issue.

He added that the House respects the judicial arm of government, but that it cannot sacrifice its own constitutional responsibility.

Tunde Buraimo representing Kosofe Constituency 2 said: “we should make it clear that the names of appointees that are returning should be re-presented to the House and the Governor should be advised to dissolve the commission.”

Gbolahan Yishawu from Eti-Osa Constituency 2 emphasised that people should leave office after the expiration of the their terms.

He stated that regulations are laws and that it is wrong for the executive to make such without informing the Assembly because, according to him, the people are being short-changed by this.

The House maintained that its resolution on the termination of tenure of members of the commission, stands.