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• I remain Cross River Assembly Speaker, Ayambem insists
Jane Otu, South-East
DAILY COURIER - Rt. Hon. Elvert Ekom Ayambem has been impeached as the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly.
The Speaker was impeached on Wednesday by 17 members out of the 25-member House over allegations of misappropriation of funds.
Majority of the lawmakers passed a no-confidence vote on the Rt. Hon. Ayambem, about 11 months in office.
The impeachment motion was moved by Hon. Effiom Ekarika representing Calabar South 1 Constituency and seconded by Hon. Omang Charles Omang representing Bekwarra State Constituency.
Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem was elected Speaker of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly in June 2023.
Ayambem represents Ikom 2 State Constituency in the Houses of Assembly.
A rowdy session ensued after Ayambem was impeached.
One of the lawmakers made a dash for the mace, which is the symbol of authority of the speaker.
However, the legislator with the mace refused to let go, leading to a struggle and a brawl in the the chamber.
Ayambem’s ‘Sins’
According to the impeachment notice obtained by DAILY COURIER on Wednesday, the lawmakers alleged that the impeached speaker misappropriated N48 million meant for the payment of electricity bills of the assembly complex and quarters.
They claimed alleged that Ayambem misappropriated 2 percent of all revenue collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) monthly to the tune of N404 million.
“Misappropriation of the sum of N19,437, 844.00 (Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and forty-five Naira) from Local Government deduction and 11 months deductions which he allegedly failed to disclose to members,” the impeachment notice reads.
“Incompetence and wrong conduct of plenary proceedings: Un-parliamentary way of conducting proceedings.
“Appointment of members to move or second motions rather than allowing interested members to raise their hands. Non-compliance with the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management Law 2021.
“Arbitrary approval of expenditure in flagrant breach of the provisions of Section 9(1) of the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management Law 2021.
“Approvals beyond the limit which the Speaker can approve contrary to Section 9(10) of the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management Law 2021.”
Among the lawmakers that signed the impeachment notice were Kingsley Ntui, Okon Owuna, Samuel Neji Abang, Cyril James Omini, Stanley Nsemo, Charles Omang Omang.
Others included Thomas Aruku, Eyo Bassey, Bassey Bassey Effiong, Francis Onete Ogban, Victor Nsa, Ovat Agbor, Pius Ashas Ashakia, Martins Achadu, Effiong Ekarika, Egbe Abeng Egbe, and Hilary Bisong.
I Remain Cross River Assembly Speaker, Ayambem Insists
However, Elvert Ayambem has insisted that he remains the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly.
The Press Secretary to the Speaker, Matthew Okache, in a statement hours later, described what happened during Wednesday’s plenary as a “ridiculous charade with no constitutional basis.”
He said the House was not aware of any impeachment notice being served to anyone before what happened during Wednesday’s plenary.
Insisting that the impeachment and replacement are speculative, Okache urged the general public to dismiss what he described as fake news and dismiss any notion of a crisis.
The statement read, “The Cross River State House of Assembly has been alerted to false news reports that the Cross River State House of Assembly Speaker, Rt Hon. Elvert Ayambem has been impeached.
“To be clear, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly is without a doubt Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem, and that is the current position. What happened earlier today (Wednesday) during the plenary, when Hon. Effiong Akarika, a member representing Calabar South 1, disrupted the session by inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber, which is a ridiculous charade with no constitutional basis.
“The House of Assembly is not aware of any impeachment notices being served to anyone before the frivolous act as witnessed at the chambers. The alleged impeachment and replacement are speculative, and the general public is urged to disregard fake news and dismiss any notion of a crisis. The status quo is that Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem is the Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“Mr. Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem remains unconcerned and determined to elevate the Cross River State House of Assembly and support the executive arm of government, led by His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, in achieving the people’s first mantra.
“Also note that the removal of the speaker and election is not done anywhere but within precient of the Assembly Complex.”
