There was a mild drama yesterday in the Senate as former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Bassey Etim stormed the Upper House, insisting that he should be sworn-in as the duly elected senator for Akwa Ibom North.
The embattled former lawmaker, who was in closed session yesterday for several hours with the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang, however accused the senate leadership of frustrating him. He alleged that every effort to take his seat in the senate has been frustrated by the senate leadership which he said has sympathy for his opponent, Senator Akpan.
The senator-elect argued that the refusal of the Senate President to swear him in as the senator representing Akwa Ibom North after a court order nullifying the election of senator Bassey Akpan, was a gross violation of court process.
Briefing senate correspondents yesterday, Hon. Etim said “I got the judgement on 27 of February 2017 and the INEC complied and the issued me with the certificate of return as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and l have been coming here to be sworn in as the Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Today I came in the morning, hoping that l would be sworn in but that has not been done I also gave the notice to the people of my constituency that I would be sworn-in but l am yet to be sworn-in.
The swearing in is the business of the leadership of the Senate which ought to have taken place now but as l speak, somebody is usurping my seat as a Senator whereas a man who has been issued the certificate of return which is valid is standing outside here. Any moment from now, I believe that Justice would be done because whether we like it or not, we would definitely seek for Justice either from man or from God.
“There is a precedence in the Senate just like Kogi East in a pre-election matter, when a judgement is given you need to start immediately to enjoy the fruit of the judgement.
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