A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo on Monday ordered that members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly who were sacked by the Speaker, Onofiok Luke be reinstated with immediate effect.
The Court in its judgment held that the sack of the members was illegal, null and void and therefore of no effect.
Recall that the Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Onofiok Luke had on November 19, 2018, declared the seats of Nse Ntuen, Victor Udofia, Idongesit Ituen, Gabriel Toby and Otobong Ndem vacant following their defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Ruling in the suit, FHC/UY/CS/171, Justice F. O. Riman also ordered the management of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to pay the arrears of entitlements of the affected lawmakers from the date they were stopped.
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He also ruled that the affected lawmakers should be allowed access to their offices, chambers and legislative proceedings.
According to the Judge, the Speaker acted illegally in declaring the seats of the lawmakers vacant while the matter was still pending in Court.
He held that the lawmakers were still bonafide members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly until otherwise ruled by the court.
Justice Riman therefore ruled that the action of the Speaker on November 19, 2018 as it affected the lawmakers who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, was null and void and of no consequence.
