Seventeen members of the Cross River State House of Assembly yesterday impeached the Speaker, Mr Elvert Anyambem, over issues of gross misconduct and high-handedness.
The 17 members were Kingsley Ntui (Etung), Okon Owuna (Akamkpa 1), Neji Abang (Ikom 1), Cyril Omini (Yakurr 1), Stanley Nsemo (Calabar Municipality), Charles Omang (Bekwarra) and Thomas Aruku (Ogoja).
Others were Eyo Bassey (Bakassi), Bassey Effiong (Akpabuyo), Francis Onate(Biase), Victor Nsa (Calabar South 2), Ovat Agbor (Obubra 1), Pius Ashika (Obanliku), Martins Achadu (Yala 2), Effiong Ekarika( Calabar South 1) and Egbe Agbang (Obubra 2).
The impeachment followed a motion moved by the member representing Calabar South 1, Mr Effiong Ekarika, which was seconded by Mr Charles Omang, representing Bekwara constituency.
Moving the motion, Ekarika alleged that Anyambem had grossly indulged in administrative misconduct, high-handedness and financial misappropriation.
Seventeen of the 25 members signed the notice for the speaker’s impeachment accusing him of indulging in arbitrary expenditure, contrary to Section 9(1) of the state Legislative Funds Management Law, 2021.
The notice said he misappropriated N48 million meant for the payment of the assembly’s electricity bills.
He was also accused of misappropriating N404. 6 million representing two percent of the monthly revenue collected by the state Internal Revenue Service, and meant for oversight functions of the assembly.
“The speaker misappropriated N19.4 million being deductions from the local government councils which he wilfully failed to disclose to members,” the notice read in parts.
Following his impeachment, a scuffle for the mace erupted on the floor of the house and resulted in the carting away of the mace by unknown persons.
Speaking on the removal of the speaker, member representing Bekwarra state constituency Charles Omang said Ayambem ‘s removal was in line with Order 24 of the Rules of the Cross River State House of Assembly and pursuant to Section 92 (2XC) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as altered.
He said the speaker was removed on three grounds comprising gross financial misconduct, unparliamentary conduct of proceedings and incompetence.
He added that the House will meet to take a decision on its new speaker independent of any external influence.
However, The embattled speaker has dismissed the exercise insisting that he remains the Assembly’s speaker, despite being impeached by 17 members who had already signed a notice of his impeachment.
He described the process as unlawful in a statement by his chief press secretary, Matthew Okache, yesterday.
Okache said Akarika, who proposed Ayambem’s impeachment, had disturbed the meeting by “inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber.”
The statement read: “The Cross River State House of Assembly has been alerted to false news reports that the Speaker, Elvert Ayambem, has been impeached.
“To be clear, the speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly is, without a doubt, Elvert Ayambem. He is in the current position. What happened earlier today (Wednesday) during the plenary, when Effiong Akarika, a member representing Calabar South 1, disrupted the session by inviting hoodlums to enter the chamber, is a ridiculous charade with no constitutional basis.
“The House of Assembly is not aware of any impeachment notices being served to anyone before the frivolous act as witnessed at the chambers. The alleged impeachment and replacement are speculative, and the public is urged to disregard fake news and dismiss any notion of a crisis. The status quo is that Elvert Ayambem is the Speaker of the House of Assembly.”
The embattled, however, said he was not disturbed by the impeachment, and remained determined to elevate the Assembly and Governor Bassey Otu’s administration.