CHINEDU WOSU
YENAGOA
Embattled Speaker of Bayelsa state House of Assembly, Hon Friday Konbonwei Benson has dismissed rumors making the rounds that he was sacked by the Appeal Court sitting in Port Harcourt, insisting that he is the sitting Speaker of the State Assembly.
Konbonwei Benson said the Appeal Court that sat in Port Harcourt only dismissed the Appeal brought before it by Mr. Orunimighe Ebifaghe of All Progressives Congress, APC, of constituency 4 in Southern Ijaw Local government Area.
The speaker urged the people of Southern Ijaw and his constituency to disregard the rumor that he was sacked.
Konbowei Benson is also seeking an order directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to stay or suspend the execution of the order in the judgment which is “attached to the appellant’s counsel’s letter dated 14th January 2016.”
He spoke in Yenagoa on Friday while briefing journalists on the the position of the judgement given on 9th, December, 2015 by the Appeal Court in Port Harcourt
Konbowei produced a copy of the record of proceedings of the court on December 9 signed by the Presiding Justice, M. L. Garba which contained the judgment of the court in Suit No CA/PH/EPT/421/2915.
The document read in part, “Appeal for Judgment and lead Judgment written by Ejembe Eko, JCA, dismissing the appeal. Garba and Adah, JJCA agreed.”
He disclosed that his team of lawyers as well as other counsels who were in court on the said December 9 have sworn to an affidavit saying the contentious judgment was not delivered in open court.
The speaker insisted that the Court has dismissed the appeal brought by his opponent and he stands by the court ruling until it is proved otherwise
“The court has dismissed that appeal, so I strongly stand by the judgement of the court”
Konbonwei Benson said, he was given the records of the court proceedings by the court shortly after judgment and wonders why the complainant and his party were peddling rumors that he was sacked by the court
Hear him, ” I stand by the judgement of the 9th Dec, 2015 in Port Harcourt dismissing the appeal of my opponent, unless otherwise, I remain the speaker of Bayelsa state House of Assembly and I will continue to preside over the activities of the House.”
According to him, “the judgment delivered by the Appeal court was in an open court and the appeal of Oruminghe was dismissed by the court, so I was not sacked, but rather my opponent’s appeal was dismissed.”
“There can never be two judgements in a matter given by the court,” he said, assuring that he would respect the rule of law and the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria.”
