The House of Representatives has directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar and the Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), Ekpenyong Ita, close down the Kogi State House of Assembly pending the report of its mediation in the crisis rocking the Assembly.
This was contained in a letter entitled ‘Enrolled Order,’ dated October 30, 2012 which was addressed to the Clerk and members of Kogi State Assembly, the IGP and the DG of SSS, signed by the Deputy Chief Whip and Chairman, House ad-hoc committee to mediate in the Kogi State Assembly crisis, Hon Mukhtar H.Ahmed.
The Reps ad-hoc committee directed the IGP, Mohammed Abubakar, the DG of SSS, Ekpenyong Ita, and other relevant security agencies to ensure full compliance with its order.
The lawmakers also directed the Clerk of the Kogi State House of Assembly and all other supporting staff of the Assembly not to recognize any group of members or its leadership pending the outcome of the Ad-Hoc committee’s mediation.
A copy of the letter which was obtained by LEADERSHIP reads in part: “Having interacted with various segments, persons and members of the Kogi State Assembly and other stakeholders from Kogi State, it is clear and apparent that two groups of members of the House of Assembly are claiming the leadership of the said Assembly.
“Pursuant to Section 11 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), it is the opinion of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee to mediate in the Kogi State Assembly crisis that by reason of the prevailing situation, the Kogi State Assembly cannot legitimately perform its duties without the breakdown of law and order.