Some lawmakers in the Cross River state house of assembly engaged in a brawl on Wednesday during the plenary session after Elvert Ayambem’s impeachment as speaker.
On Wednesday, state assembly members impeached Ayambem over allegations of financial misappropriation and incompetence.
The impeachment notice was signed by 17 out of the 25 members of the Cross River assembly.
The lawmakers alleged that Ayambem misappropriated N48 million meant for the payment of electricity bills for the assembly complex and quarters.
The lawmakers also alleged that the impeached speaker misappropriated two percent of all revenue collected by the internal revenue service (IRS) monthly to the tune of N404 million.
Effiong Ekarika, a lawmaker representing Calabar south 1 constituency, moved the motion for the impeachment, which was seconded by Omang Charles of Bekwarra constituency.
Following Ekarika and Omang’s announcement, one of the lawmakers dashed for the mace, the speaker’s symbol of authority.
Another lawmaker approached him and attempted to wrestle the mace away from his colleague. The two legislators fought each other to the ground as the session became rowdy.
Irene Ugbo, spokesperson of the state’s police command, said some police officers have been deployed to the assembly complex “to forestall a breakdown of law and order”.
Ugbo said there was no casualty or arrest after the incident, noting that “our men are in front of the assembly right now.”.
“The commissioner of police sent our men on time to the venue. The place was controlled after the incident. There is no cause for alarm. The area is calm now,” the police spokesperson said.
“We deployed our men to forestall law and order. Nobody was injured, and there were no casualties.
“Our men are in front of the assembly right now. Our men are everywhere to forestall order.”
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VIDEO: Lawmakers fight for mace in Cross River house of assembly after Elvert Ayambem is impeached as speaker pic.twitter.com/PYM6siCuph
— TheCable (@thecableng) May 22, 2024
