By Punch
A high court in Imo State on Monday declared as null and void the suspension of five members of the state House of Assembly.
The presiding justice, Goddy Anunihu , who declared the processes that led to the indefinite suspension of the five lawmakers as “putting the horse before the cart ” awarded N8m as cost against the three defendants .
The defendants in the suit instituted by the embattled lawmakers are the Imo State House of Assembly, the Speaker , Acho Ihim, and the Governor of the state , Rochas Okorocha .
The embattled lawmakers are Chiiji Collins , Israel Nnataraoye, Nkenna Nzerue, Uche Oguwuike and Donatus Onuigwe.
They represent Isiala Mbano, Mbaitoli , Ikeduru , Oru-East and Oru -West state constituencies.
The lawmakers were suspended in July by their colleagues in what the Speaker described as “unparliamentary conducts. ”
They were suspended during the build-up that led to the impeachment of the state Deputy Governor, Eze Madumere .
The court had since reinstated Madumere .
The presiding justice who tongue -lashed the legislature for acting against the law , faulted the setting up of a team to investigate the allegations against the now reinstated lawmakers .
Anunihu said based on the evidence before him , the panel was set up even before the “purported indefinite suspension. ”
One of the reinstated lawmakers, Nnataraonye , who spoke to our correspondent on the phone shortly after the judgment was delivered, said, “I am in my office now. I have moved in and resumed duties immediately. This is victory for democracy and it shows that our judicial system is a place of justice.”
