Ahmed Lawan, the senate president, is yet to swear in Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, five weeks after a Supreme Court judgment.
On February 25, 2021, the court dismissed the appeal filed by Senator Stephen Odey challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The majority judgment upheld the preliminary objections raised by Jarigbe challenging the mode of service of the notice of appeal.
On December 29, the Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division, ruled in favour of Jarigbe.
He was declared the duly nominated candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and the rightful winner of the December 5, 2020 election.
The court ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to issue Jarigbe as Certificate of Return and withdraw the one earlier issued to Odey.
Five weeks after the apex court’s judgment, Lawan has failed to allow Jarigbe to take his oath as a Senator-elect or provided a reason.
Jarigbe, a member of the House of Representatives, had before expressed confidence that the Senate President would obey the law.
He noted that the judiciary interpreted the law, while INEC already issued him a Certificate of Return.
Jarigbe said the Senate is not an extension of Cross River State since the National Assembly is an institution of its own.
“I don’t need to have contact with the Senate President because he is the leader of the National Assembly. As a parliamentarian, I am not a first time member. I know him very well and I have his history of performance. I know he respects the rule of law and so, don’t need to go and see him.
“I think as a parliamentarian, the leadership will respect their own and the rule of law. “It is not possible to sit tight when you are sacked. The issue is that you should not attend plenary when you are not a senator. If you do that, it is impunity and the laws are very straight on this issue,” the lawmaker added.
Source: Daily Post
