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Tag: #Elvert Ayambem

  • C’River Assembly Recommends Immediate Suspension of Four UNICROSS Governing Council members

    C’River Assembly Recommends Immediate Suspension of Four UNICROSS Governing Council members

     

    The State House of Assembly has recommended the immediate suspension of Dr. Emmanuel Ettah, Dr. John Inah Ukam, Professor Mathew Nsing Ogar, and Professor Stephen Ochang, members of the 5th Governing Council of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) for alleged misconduct and abuse of office.

    The House had deliberated on a petition by A. B. Cobham and Associates ( legal practitioners, Corporate and Real Estate Consultants) solicitors to Mr Emmanuel Eyo, the petitioner.

    Opening debate on the petition, the Leader of the House and Member representing Odukpani State Constituency, Rt Hon Francis Bassey Asuquo, drew the attention of Members to the allegations of gross misconduct against; Dr Emmanuel Ettah, Dr John Inah Ukam, Prof Mathew Nsing Ogar and Prof Stephen Ochang during their tenure as Members of the 5th Governing Council of UNICROSS.

    The allegations as stated in the petition include; Illegal Tenure Extension and Unlawful Sale of University Property. The petition indicates that Dr. Emmanuel Ettah refused to vacate office at the expiration of their tenure in September 2023 and also sold University Property between May and August 2024, almost a year after the expiration of their tenure. The petition also emphasized that the auctioning of University Equipment was in total violation of the Public Procurement Act and the Bureau of Public Procurement.

    The Lawmakers, in their separate contributions, while deliberating on the petition, viewed the action of Dr Emmanuel Ettah and Co as a total violation of the Extant Laws establishing the University. They further stressed that the State Government’s policy on the non-extension of tenures by public officers is still in force and emphasized that the continued stay in office of the Council Members after the expiration of their tenure is illegal.

    They thereafter adopted the resolution moved by the Leader, Rt Hon Francis Bassey Asuquo(Odukpani ), and seconded by the Deputy Leader Rt Hon Davies Etta(Abi) which states in part;
    ” having unanimously agreed, the House recommends the immediate suspension of Dr. Emmanuel Ettah, Dr. John Inah Ukam, Professor Mathew Nsing, and Professor Stephen Ochang. They are to be suspended from all activities of the University until a proper investigation is carried out by the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution”.

    The Speaker, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem reaffirmed the 10th Assembly’s commitment to upholding transparency, accountability, and good governance. He assured that the House will carry out a thorough investigation on the matter and thereafter make appropriate recommendations to the Governor who is the Visitor to the University.

  • CRSHA Commits To Speedy Passage Of The Local Content Bill

    CRSHA Commits To Speedy Passage Of The Local Content Bill

     

    The Speaker of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Elvert Aymabem, has made commitment to the speedy passage of the local content bill for indigenous employment and opportunities for cross riverians.

    Speaker Aymabem, made this known in his office when the Special Adviser to the governor on Local Content, Ambassador Awatt Caleb, paid him a courtesy visit to present the draft policy framework for enactment into law the bill for domestication of the Nigerian Local Content Act in the State.

    Aymabem, commended the Special Adviser and members of the Local Content Monitoring, Regulatory and Enforcement Committee for a job well done. He used the opportunity to reiterate the 10th Assembly’s commitment to the speedy passage of the bill.

    Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor on Local Content, Ambassador Awatt Caleb, expressed profound gratitude to the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly for Synergizing with the Office of the Special Adviser on Local Content for seamless domestication of the Nigerian Local Content Act 2010, in the State.

    Mr Awatt noted that “though Local Content is innovative in the state, the office is fully committed towards the promotion of active indigenous participation in support of the “people first mantra” of His Excellency Governor Bassey Otu led administration. He sued for cooperation with the Cross River State Assembly in domestication of the Act in the State.

    Other Lawmakers including the leader of the State Assembly, Rt. Honourable Francis Bassey Asuquo and others expressed their heartfelt gratitude to Governor Bassey Otu for the creation of Local Content Office and the appointment of substantive Special Adviser and Senior Special Assistant on Local Content, and reaffirmed their commitment to the passage of the bill.

  • No Vacuum In The Leadership Of The Cross River State House Of Assembly BY OKOI OBONO-OBLA 

    No Vacuum In The Leadership Of The Cross River State House Of Assembly BY OKOI OBONO-OBLA 

     

    On 22 May 2024 ,something that startled political pundits happened in the Cross River State when the people were hit with the breaking news that the Speaker of the House of Assembly has been removed.

    However rumour mongers started speculating that because the removed Speaker was not replaced the removal of the previous speaker would not stand .

    There is No Rule in the Rules and Regulations of the Cross River State House of Assembly that says when the Speaker of the House of Assembly is removed ,another Speaker must automatically with alacrity elected to replace the one removed.

    The Cross River State House of Assembly is independent and indeed a sovereign.
    Its proceedings are internally regulated by the Assembly.

    Therefore the insinuation that the removed Speaker remains in office because another Speaker was not elected on 22 May 2024 when he was removed upon a resolution signed by 17 members is bunkum and constitutionally a balderdash.

    four and not more than forty members.
    Section 92 (1) and (2) (a)(b) and (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,1999 provides as follows:
    (1) There shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of a House of Assembly who shall be elected by the members of the House from among themselves.
    (2) The Speaker or Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly shall vacate his office –

    (a) if he ceases to be a member of the House of Assembly otherwise than by reason of the dissolution of the House;

    (b) When the House first sits after any dissolution of House; or

    (c) if he is removed from office by a resolution of House of Assembly by the votes of not less than two-third majority of the members of the House of Assembly

    Section 92 (c) (c) of the Constitution is very explicit,the Speaker stands removed from office if he is removed by a resolution of votes of not less than 2/3 of the members of the House of Assembly.

    In other words,the Speaker or Deputy Speaker shall vacate his office in three circumstances namely:
    (a) when he ceases to be a member of the House of Assembly;
    (b) the House sits after dissolution;and
    (c) If he is removed by a resolution of votes of not less than 2/3 of the members of the House of Assembly.

    Finally ,there is no vacuum in the Cross River State House of Assembly because the Deputy Speaker is still in office as he was not affected by the removal Speaker.

    Section 95(1) and (2) of the Constitution is handy and therefore comes into aid.
    Section 95 (1) and (2) of the Constitution provides as:
    (1) At any sitting of a House of Assembly, the Speaker of that House shall preside, and in his absence the Deputy Speaker shall preside.
    (2) In the absence of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House, such members of the House as the House may elect for a purpose shall preside.

    In the light of the above,there is no vacuum whatsoever in the leadership of the Cross River House of Assembly presently.

    The Deputy Speaker will preside over the House whenever it reconvenes and a new Speaker will be elected there after.

    @ Okoi Obono-Obla

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Okoi Obono-Obla and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent or the organization the author works for.

  • Hon Aruku Got My Approval To Move Into Hon Ashakia’s Former Office – Speaker Ayambem

    Hon Aruku Got My Approval To Move Into Hon Ashakia’s Former Office – Speaker Ayambem

     

    The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem, has stated that the member representing Ogoja State Constituency, Hon Thomas Aruku, got approval to use Hon Ashakia’s office.

    The speaker made this known on a telephone call to TheLumineNews news, when he saw the news.

    Ayambem said “what happened is that Hon Thomas Aruku approached me and I spoke with Hon Pius Ashakia, and I don’t think that he had issues with it”.

    Response to why Hon Pius Ashakia did not handover the key to Hon Thomas Aruku, the speaker said that “We cannot handover all the keys to you. If we do, if anything happens in the office, you will be held accountable”.

    “I can tell you that what you published is not true. Whatever damage control you can do, please go ahead and do it”. Ayambem added.

    TheLumineNews had earlier published that Hon Thomas Aruku broke into Hon Pius Ashakia’s office and took possession of the office.

    As at the time of filing that report, efforts to reach the speaker to get the correct version of the incident had failed with calls to his phone number not taken with text and WhatsApp messages not responded to.

  • Gunmen Kills Youth Leader, Abducts Four Others In C’River Assembly Speaker’s Village

    Gunmen Kills Youth Leader, Abducts Four Others In C’River Assembly Speaker’s Village

     

    Richard Ndoma, Leadership Newspaper

    Tragedy struck the Nde Three Corners Community in Cross River State on Christmas Day as gunmen killed a youth leader, Mr. Akpang Ayambem, and abducted four others.

    The incident occurred in the hometown of the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Honorable Elvert Ayambem, in Ikom Local Government Area.

    Nde Three Corners has become notorious for kidnappings and other violent crimes in recent months.

    Travelers on the Ikom Ogoja/Katsina-Ala Highway have also been frequent targets of kidnappers over the past month.

    Mr. Awor Takim, a resident of the community, reported that the gunmen struck in the evening, shooting an unidentified man and dragging his body into the bush.

    They then proceeded to operate for 30-60 minutes, shooting and wounding two other residents who were returning from their farms. One of the wounded victims sustained a gunshot injury to his hand and is receiving medical attention.

    Soldiers from a nearby battalion and police anti-robbery squad reportedly arrived after the gunmen fled.

    As of the time of filling this report, Irene Ugbo, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, confirmed that her office had not yet received a report of the incident but promised to investigate the matter.

    The recent surge in criminal activity in Nde Three Corners is deeply concerning.

    Last month, a medical practitioner was reportedly shot dead, and the All Progressive Congress (APC) Ikom Ward Chairman, Matthew Egomo, was kidnapped along with his son. Egomo paid a N5 million ransom before being released.

    Efforts to reach Speaker Ayambem for comment were unsuccessful as his phone remained switched off.

     

  • Elvert Ayambem Emerges Speaker Of The 10th Cross River State House Of Assembly

    Elvert Ayambem Emerges Speaker Of The 10th Cross River State House Of Assembly

    Hon. Elvert Ayambem has just been elected speaker of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly.

    He is the member representing Ikom 2 state constituency.