House Crisis: Melaye, Others to Challenge Suspension In Court

Source: EWACHE AJEFU, ABUJA BUREAU CHIEF. - thewillnigeria.com
PHOTO: FEDERAL LEGISLATORS DURING YESTERDAY'S DISRUPTIVE SESSION.
PHOTO: FEDERAL LEGISLATORS DURING YESTERDAY'S DISRUPTIVE SESSION.


ABUJA, June 23, (THEWILL) - Leader of the group of suspended legislators at the Federal House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye today said the group is set to challenge their suspension from the Lower chamber at the courts, stating that the fight against corruption would continue.


Representative Melaye, who spoke in an interview at a local radio station, Raypower and monitored by THEWILL in Abuja said the Speaker and indeed leadership of the House of Representatives are not sacred cows as such probes had in the past affected Mr. Salisu Buhari, Senator Adolphus Nwabara, Honourable Patience Etteh and others noting that the group would continue to intensify efforts at ridding the House of corrupt leaders.


"Even though I was battered and beaten to the extent that my wears were torn in shreds, I will not give up the fight against corruption until the perpetrators are brought to book in order to allow the hallowed chambers regain its lost glory", he said.


He said the crux of the fracas bordered on the fact that he raised a point of order to challenge the motion brought to the floor of the House by Representative Chile Igbawua (PDP Benue) on a matter of privilege but the speaker chose to ignore him when the motion according to him was not properly presented and in violation of House rules.


"The resultant exchange of shouting matches between the pro-Bankole group and the progressives escalated into fist cuffs turning the lower chambers into a boxing arena," he said.


Asked why he had to blow the whistle in the chambers, Melaye said extraordinary and abnormal situations need abnormal solution, hence the blowing of the whistle, adding however that there was no law that bares them from making public corrupt tendencies as they have done by telling the press and the anti-graft agencies.


On the inclusion of Hon. Doris Uboh’s name on the list of suspended members, Melaye said that she was not part and parcel of the progressives but the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole added her name following the member’s reminder to the House that there was need to follow due process as far as the suspension of the progressives were concerned. Hon. Uboh on her part sustained severe injuries and still recuperating in the hospital as at press time.