From Tony Osauzo, Benin
To avert being jailed for contempt by the Court of Appeal, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Victor Edoror, yesterday swore-in a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, Sylvanus Eruaga, representing Estako II Constituency where Governor Adams Oshiomhole hails from.
The Court of Appeal had in December last year, upheld the ruling of the lower tribunal which sacked Yakubu Gowon of the All Progressive Congress.
But for four months after the appellate court judgment, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Edoror, declined to swear-in Eruaga, alleging that the Certificate of Return issued to him by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was forged.
Dissatisfied with the speaker’s posture, Eruaga, through his counsel, Barrister Dele Igbinedion returned to the Appellate court and obtained forms 48 and 49 against Edoror.
Consequently, presiding Justice Kayode Bada of the Appeal Court on Monday summoned Edoror to appear before the court within 72 hours to show cause why he should not be jailed for contempt of the court.
The court had directed the Solicitor-General of the state, Oluwole Iyamu to produce the Speaker and Clerk of the house on Thursday to show cause why they should not be committed to prison.
But in an apparent smart move, Speaker Edoror yesterday swore-in Eruaga at a ceremony attended by chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He said lawmakers must obey the laws of the land, adding that there was no way he could subvert laws made by the legislators.
Eruaga while reacting to the swearing-in, described the oath taking as victory for democracy and for freedom, and praised the judiciary for delivering justice.