The House ofRepresentatives has said that it will act on any valid court judgment served on it in respect of the contentious Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency seat in Lagos State.
“We are a law-abiding institution; if anyone serves a valid court judgment on the House that they won an election and the courtdeclared them so, we are bound to act on it,” the House told Saturday PUNCHin Abuja.
The Amuwo Odofin seat currently occupied by Mr. Ganiyu Olukolu, has become a subject of controversy after Mrs. S.O.S. Olley laid claim to it. Both are members of the Action Congress of Nigeria.
According to Olley, a Supreme Court judgment of April 12, 2013, declared her as the valid candidate of the ACN to occupy the seat.
However, she complained that neither the National Assembly (House) nor the Independent National Electoral Commission acted on the judgment, two months after it was delivered.
But, the Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Victor Ogene, challenged her to produce a copy of the judgment or ensure that it was served on the House.
Ogene stated that the House would act on the condition that the judgment was served on it.
He said, “Where is the copy of the judgment? What did the court say exactly?
“The House has to see the judgment to be able to act. We have a competent legal department.
“Such a judgment, if served on the House, will be referred to the legal department for proposer legal advice. The leadership of the House will thereafter act on the advice of the department.
“Right now, we are talking about a judgment that we don’t know the content. Sometimes, people may interpret court decisions to suit their own purpose.
“However, with a competent legal department in place, we will know what the judgment is saying and the House will be advised to act appropriately.
“Again, there are no two judgments that are the same when it comes to application.”
A similar case involving Mr. Criscato Ameke and a former President of theNational Association of Nigerian Students, Mr. Tony Nwoye, has remained unresolved.
The two are contesting the Anambra-West/East Federal Constituency seat occupied by Ameke.
Two previous court judgments had declared Nwoye as the winner of the seat, but Ameke is holding on to the seat on the grounds that there is a pending application yet to be disposed of by the Supreme Court.
Culled: Punchng
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