Toba Suleiman
10 July 2008
Ado-Ekiti — Still battling with his impeachment, former speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Honourable Femi Bamishile, yesterday said he was still the speaker, since the impeachment did not follow due process.
But the new Speaker, Honourable Tunji Odeyemi, described Bamishile as an impostor after being removed by two-third majority of the members.
He said the Integrity Group members that carried out the impeachment did not breach the Standing Order or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
"We all have access to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and what it says concerning impeachment process is the input of two-third members to impeach the Speaker if he has been found to have committed any offence warranting his removal.
"It is unfortunate that an enlightened person will continue to lay claim to the seat of the Speaker when he knows the rules guiding the impeachment process, which went through due process of the law and in the next few hours, we will take over," he said.
Bamishile was impeached on Tuesday by 18 members, 13 from Action Congress and five from PDP, over various allegations ranging from examination malpractices, conducting the business of the Assembly at an unparliamentary hour and indictment by a committee, which investigates his past.
During the impeachment which led to a total confusion and pandemonium, the mace which was the instrument of authority got broken into about three parts.
Addressing pressmen at the chamber yesterday, Bamishile blamed his colleagues for their alleged love for money.
According to him, the purported impeachment by 18 lawmakers can not stay, because the process did not follow due process.
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