EXCLUSIVE: How Otu, NASS Members Foiled A Palace Coupe Against Speaker Elvert  ... Aggrieved Lawmakers Not Satisfied With Peace Moves

By Ndifreke BASSEY 

The palace coupe against Speaker Anyambem Elvert was allegedly  foiled by Governor Bassey Otu and members of the Cross River State National Assembly caucus, THE BEAGLE NEWS can authouritatively reveal.

Seventeen law makers of the Cross River State House of Assmebly had on Thursday, May 22, 2024 impeached the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elvert Anyambem, for allegedly embezzling over N500m.

The law makers in an urgent matter of public importance, said Anyembe's removal is in line with Order 24 of the Rules of the Cross River State House of Assembly and pursuant to Section 92(2)(C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered. 

The impeachment move did not go down well with the Governor, who has dispatched his chief of staff to meet with with aggrieved members at TRANSCORP Hotels, where they peace moves started in earnest.

At the brief meeting with the 17 lawmakers,  governor aide had pleaded with them to stop further action on the speakership matter pending the return of his Oga even as they had addressed the media insisting that Elvert would not return to the seat.

Without dilly-dallying, Otu was said to have swung into action and commenced consultations with critical stakeholders on how to resolve the political imbroglio at the state legislature.

And on Saturday, the Governor had a closed-door meeting that lasted into the night with all NASS members where the speakership tussle was discussed 

A source close to the meeting confided in our correspondent that after weighing the pros and coins of the impeachment and the political implications on the state, they all resolved that the 17 aggrieved legislators should down tools while the Speaker Elvert should be upraided for running a one-man show. 

It was learned that the NASS members further had private consultations with their law makers representing their state constituencies to find a lasting solution as most of them were united in ensuring that Elvert does not come back.

Otu was also said to have reached out to some other critical stakeholders who gave their voice in support of bringing back Elvert to forestall political acrimony. 

After consulting with stakeholders, another source revealed that Otu convened a meeting with all the 25 lawmakers last night and just announced to them that The Speaker has been returned.

He was said to have  impressed it on the law makers that this is not the auspicious time to engage in power tussle at the Assembly as such would pose negative impact of development and smooth running of governance across board.

Impeccable sources revealed that the other 17 lawmakers are not satisfied with the the Governor's stand.
 However, in a press press release dated May 27, 2024 , Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, said he has been unanimously reaffirmed as Speaker of the
tenth Assembly of Cross River State.

According to him, the reaffirmation of Ayambem followed a rapprochement brokered by the state
governor, Senator Bassey Otu and critical stakeholders with the 25-member Assembly in Calabar yesterday.

Ayambem expressed his appreciation to the governor and the concerned
stakeholders for what he described as their remarkable ability to bring about
peace for the stability of the state and the House of Assembly.

He said: "The Governor's track record as a leader who is committed to peace has never been in doubt. This has continued to shine
through from his time as senator to his current position as governor. 

"I want to sincerely thank you for your genuine interest in and commitment to the peace
and unity of Cross River State."

The earlier notice removing Elvert and signed by the seventeen of them, read in part: " We bring this all important Motion under matters of urgent public importance. 

"Having met the Constitutional requirement of two-third
majority, we the under listed members of the Cross River State House of Assembly hereby pass a vote- of-no- confidence on Rt. Hon. Elvert Anyambem, Speaker of the House of Assembly and he is hereby removed."

" The grounds of removal include misappropriation of the sum of N48,000,000.00 (Forty-Eight Million Naira) meant to pay Nepa bills for the House of Assembly complex and the House of Assembly quarters.

"Misappropriation of 2% of all revenue collected by the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) monthly for oversight functions of the House of Assembly in line with Section 18(a)(i) of the Cross River State Revenue
Administration Law 2011 as amended to the tune of N404,683,855.10
(four hundred and four Million, six hundred and eighty-three
thousand, eight hundred and fifty-five Naira, ten Kobo).
Misappropriation of the sum of N19,437,844.00 (nineteen million, four hundred and thirty-seven thousand, eight hundred and forty-four Naira) from local government deduction and 11 months deductions which the Rt. Hon. Speaker has willfully failed to disclose to
members."

The Lawmakers also accused the Speaker of incompetence and wrong conduct of plenary proceeding in an un- parliamentary way.  Appointment of members to move or second motions rather than allowing interested members to raise their hands.

"Noncompliance with the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management Law 2021 as seen in arbitrary approval of expenditure in flagrant breach of the provisions of
Section 9(1) of the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management
Law 2021.

"Approvals beyond the limit which the Speaker can approve contrary to
Section 9(10) of the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management
Law 2021.Perpetual refusal to inaugurate the Legislative Funds Management
Committee as required by Section 9(1) of the Cross River State Legislature Funds Management Law 2021
Ground and total failure to convene leadership meetings.

As at the time of going to press, the lawmakers area still in a closed door meeting on the way forward.