LOCAL GOVT. AND CHIEFTAINCY AFFAIRS COMMITTEE BEGINS HEARING OF ABASIAMA ETOKAKPAN'S IMPEACHMENT

Williams Akpabio - Information Unit (AKHA) Uyo

Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs today begins hearing on a case of purported impeachment of Hon. Abasiama Etokakpan as the Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council

The investigative meeting presided by the committee Chairman Rt. Hon. Mark Esset, member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency held at the Conference Hall of the Assembly, had in attendance the Members of the House Committee, Oruk Amam Council Chairman Rt. Hon Kinsley Frank. Leader of Council Hon. Sundy Festus Akpan, the impeached vice Chairman Hon. Abasiama Etokakpan and Councillors .

It could be recalled that Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on 15th July, 2021 mandated House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to investige the impeachment of Hon. Abasiama Etukakpan as Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council, following Petitions received through its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions.

Declaring the meeting opened, Rt. Hon. Mark Esset said that the meeting is based on the petition that was written to the House of Assembly bordering on the purported impeachment of Hon. Abasiama Etokakpan as the Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council and an act of illegality. 

The committee chairman who described the 7th Assembly as the people's Assembly added that the committee seek for facts without any iota of impartiality for onward submission to the house in it's report of investigation. 

On his part, the Leader of Oruk Anam Local Government Council Hon. Sunday Festus Akpan in his submission accepted violated section 28(1)b and Section 44 Sub Section 1 -14 (Procedures for Removal of Chairman/Vice Chairman) of the Local Government Administration Law 2017

He earlier affirmed the impeachment of the vice Chairman of Council, and that the impeachment was considered on the following grounds:

i) Falsifcation of Date of birth: that Hon. Abasiama Etokakpan, Birth Certificate of bears 17th October, 1992 while his WAEC Certificate claim 1st March, 1998. In addition,  the council leader faulted the eligibility of Hon. Etokakpan on age grounds as he was not up to 30 years of age when he contested for the office.

ii) Asset Declarations: that the impeached Vice Chairman did not declared his assets to the code of conduct bureau before resuming office 

iii) Tax Clearance: that he didn't made his tax clearance before contesting.

Although his defense was seen to be baseless because they were not backed by any official document from the Inland Revenue Service and Code of Conduct bureau; moreover the acclaimed offences were not included in the notice of impeachment letter.

On the part of the impeached Vice Chairman Hon. Abasiama Etokakpan, he said that his attention was drawn to the purported impeachment saga through phone calls on the 23rd of March, 2021. and that the issues raised are not the duties of the council legislature rather

that the issues of forgery could only be determined by the court of law. Moreover, Hon. Etokakpan still stood his ground that he has never received any notice of impeachment of any crime being alleged by the legislators till date.

The council Chairman, in his submission yielded to the purported action of the local government legislators said he was  helpless since the incidence took place when the state Assembly and judiciary we're on strike, he confirmed of appointing and sworn-in a new Vice Chairman to avoid vacuum of office

Meanwhile, Hon. Anieme Udofia and Hon. Imefon Benjamin who signed the illegal impeachment document to remove Hon Abasiama Etukakpan Jr. as Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam said they signed the document out of duress and ignorance.

Fielding questions from journalist after the meeting, the spokeman of the Assembly who is also a member of the committee Rt. Hon. (Barr.) Aniefiok Dennis and member representing Etinan State Constituency, said the action of the committee is in compliance of the general house on the issues of purported removal of the Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council, the Committee has ensured fair hearing for both parties, the vice Chairman presented his position, saying that he was not saved of any impeachment notice, 

Explaining further, Barr. Dennis said that Section 28(1)b and Section 44 (1) of the Local Government Administration Law 2017 on the procedure to impeach Local Government Chairman/Vice Chairman  has 14 Sub Sections, the Local Government legislators have the first 3 Sub Section to deal with while the remaining Sub Sections is for the House of Assembly.

Speaking about the allegations, the lawyer cum legislator said that the aclaimed three allegations are pre-election matters, that the legislators does not the competence on those matters rather the court of law. 

it could be recalled that Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on 15th July, 2021 ordered House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to investige the impeachment of Hon. Abasiama Etukakpan as Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council, following Petitions received through its Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions.