Drama In C'River Assembly As Ogoja Lawmaker Evicts Colleague From Office Complex After Vandalization
By Our Reporter
In a dramatic turn of events, the member representing Ogoja State Constituency in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Thomas Aruku, has allegedly forcefully broken into the office of the member representing Obanliku State Constituency, Hon Pius Ashakia, and took possession, THE BEAGLE NEWS can authouritatively reveal.
Investigation by THE BEAGLE NEWS gathered that Hon Aruku broke into the office without the knowledge of the his colleague and has taken possession of the office, room 202 in the Assembly Complex and changed the keys.
Recall that Hon Thomas Aruku (APC) had challenged the declaration of Rita Ayim (PDP) at the Tribunal and Appeal Court.
At Appeal, Aruku was declared winner at the Appellate Court, which ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue certificate of return to him as the duly elected member representing Ogoja State Constituency.
Aruku was subsequently sworn in by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon Elvert Ayambem.
But shortly after swearing in, Aruku hinted that he would not stay in the office Room 203 allocated to the lawmaker representing Ogoja state constituency, insisting to swap with Obanliku lawmaker, Hon Pius Ashakia, who occupies Room 202.
THE BEAGLE NEWS further gathered news that Aruku had previously approached Hon. Ashakia to swap office on grounds that he is afraid of using the same office that Hon Rita Ayim was using room 203, that was assigned to Ogoja.
But in what appears as if Ashakia was foot dragging, Aruku angrily broke into 202 and changed the key, making it impossible for Ashakia to access his 202 office at the Assembly Complex.
When contacted on telephone, Hon Pius Ashakia said: "I am aware of the swap but that Hon Thomas Aruku was not patient to wait for him to open the door for him."
When asked what necessitated the swap, Hon Ashakia said: "Pleas the Speaker of the State House of Assembly is in a better position to answer what led to the swap."
