…Sets Up Committee To Investigate Allegations Against Embattled Speaker
By Kelvin Obambon
The Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) Cross River chapter, has reacted over the leadership tussle that engulfed the State House of Assembly which led to the purported impeachment of the Speaker, Mr Elvert Ayambem, on Wednesday 22nd May, 2024.
17 of the 25-member Assembly removed the Speaker, citing financial misconduct, incompetence, non-compliance with the Cross River State Legislature Fund Management Law 2021, and total failure to convene a leadership meeting.
Ayambem was also accused of
misappropriating the sum of N48,000,000.00 (Forty-Eight Million Naira) meant to pay NEPA bills for the House of Assembly complex and the House of Assembly Quarters.
Misappropriation of 2% of all revenue collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) monthly for oversight functions of the House of Assembly in line with Section 18(a)(i) of the Cross River State Revenue Administration Law 2011 as amended to the tune of N404,683,855.10 (Four Hundred and Four Million, Six Hundred and Eighty-Three Thousand, Eight Hundred and Fifty-Five Naira, Ten Kobo).
Read Also: Revealed: Forces Behind Removal of Cross River Assembly Speaker, Ayambem
Misappropriation of the sum of N19,437, 844.00 (Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and forty-five Naira) from Local Government deduction and 11 months deductions which he allegedly failed to disclose to members.
Reacting over the development, IPAC Chairman, Engr. Effiom Edet Okon in a statement Wednesday night, called on members of the Assembly to exercise restraint and maintain calm in order not to throw the entire state into needless crisis that could jeopardize the existing peace vital for development to thrive.
The Council however stated that its solidarity lies with the good people of Cross River, adding that “we are mostly concerned about the negative effects this imbroglio in the legislative arm of government would have on the state. His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu is making so much effort to move the state forward and all of these distractions are not needed. They are capable of derailing the governor’s good plans for the state.”
The statement continues, “A house divided against itself cannot stand. Inter-Party Advisory Council understands that the Cross River State House of Assembly is mostly dominated by the APC and as such this misappropriation of fund for personal interest as published by some aggrieved members of the House, is to say the least, detestable.
“Accordingly, IPAC has set up a committee to investigate the allegations of financial malfeasance against the embattled Speaker in order to determine our next line of action, which will ultimately be in the interest of the people.
“We wish to reiterate that the People First agenda of the Prince Bassey Otu-led administration resonates well with us and we therefore urge all well-meaning Cross Riverians to support this government to enable it deliver on its mandate.”