The House of Representatives has ordered the full closure of the Kogi State House of Assembly pending the report of its mediation in the crisis rocking the assembly.
The lawmakers in a letter directed the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar; the Director-General of the State Security Service Ekpenyong Ita, and other security agencies to ensure full compliance with its order, elombah.com reports.
The letter dated October 30, 2012 was signed by the Deputy Chief Whip and Chairman, House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee to mediate in the Kogi State House of Assembly crisis, Murktar Ahmed.
The same letter was also addressed to all members of the Kogi State House of Assembly and the Clerk of the House.
The lawmaker also directed the Clerk of the Kogi State House of Assembly and all other supporting staff of the Assembly not to recognise any group of members or its leadership pending the outcome of the Ad-Hoc committee's mediation.
Twelve members of the 25-member Kogi Assembly had sat and 'impeached' the Speaker, Abdullahi Bello, and other principal officers of the House.
The action of the 12 members has been variously condemned as “illegal.”
Analysts are of the opinion that the group did not meet the mandatory two third majority members of the House to carry out any impeachment exercise.
Ahmed insisted that full suspension of legislative business in the House has become necessary to prevent a breakdown of law and order in Kogi State.
A copy of the letter entitled, "Enrolled Order" which was sighted by elombah.com in Abuja reads in part, "Having interacted with various segments, persons and members of the Kogi State House of Assembly and other stakeholders from Kogi State, it is clear and apparent that two groups of members of the Kogi State 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 House of Assembly crisis that by reason of the prevailing situation, the Kogi State House of Assembly cannot legitimately perform its duty without the breakdown of law and order.
"It is therefore, hereby ordered that: All members should suspend all and any official legislative function pending the outcome of the Ad-Hoc Committee's mediation.
"The Clerk of the Kogi State House of Assembly and all other supporting staff should not recognize any group of members or its leadership howsoever called pending the outcome of the Ad-Hoc committee's mediation.
"The Inspector General of Police, the Director General of State Security Service and all relevant security agencies are hereby ordered to ensure full compliance with this order.
