The Benue State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on the Speaker Hyacinth Dajoh, to disregard the summons from the National Assembly Public Petitions Committee.
The Assembly argued that the summons contravenes the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.
A statement by Terver Zamber Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker further reveals plans by the State Assembly to take legal action against the National Assembly.
The House called for an investigation by the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and the Inspector General of Police to unravel those who signed the petition.
The lawmakers called on the National Assembly Caucus from Benue State to properly engage with the State Assembly to acertain why the State is being portrayed in bad light at the National Assembly.
Lending his voice on the petition sent by the National Assembly summoning the Speaker and leadership of the Assembly to appear on Thursday, Majority Leader of the House Saater Tiseer said the notice sent by the National Assembly is out of ignorance.
He said, by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Benue State House of Assembly is not answerable to the National Assembly, saying section (101) has given the house the powers to legislate on its business without external control.
Member representing Katsina- Ala West State Constituency Bemdoo Ipusu accepted the decision of the house to take the National Assembly to court
Ipusu noted that the group in mentioning the names of the suspended members mentioned member representing Guma 1 State constituency Peter Uche who is not suspended showing that the group lacks knowledge of what transpired on the floor of the house that day.
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He wondered why the National Assembly would want to take over the functions of the Assembly that is vibrant and performing its duties effectively, noting that the three arms of government in the State are not fighting each other.
Members including Micheal Audu and Peter Uche condemned in totality the decision of the National Assembly and urged the Speaker and the leadership not to appear.
Uche said he is still performing his duties in the house as elected and expected by his people and wondered why the group included his name alongside those suspended, saying the act clearly shows that the National Assembly was not properly informed before taking its decision.
(Editor: Oloyede Oworu)
