The Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy, a civil society group, stated that individuals who left the Rivers State House of Assembly need to be detained and put on trial as they are no longer members of the body.
According to the Center, the politicians’ actions constituted a conspiracy to commit a treasonable criminal.
The Center promised in an open letter dated December 12, 2023, sent to the IGP that if Egbetokun does not respond to its call, it would see to it that the 27 parliamentarians face legal action.
“We are a non-governmental organization that is committed to good governance in accordance with the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and best practices in democratic norms,” states the letter, which is signed by Kalu Kalu Agu, the Center’s legal adviser.
We thus demand the immediate arrest and prosecution of the twenty-seven (27) former members of the Rivers State House of Assembly who defected to the APC for the following offenses, stemming from our devotion to our fundamental objective:
“Commission of a treasonable offense in collusion.”
According to our research, there are the following facts that provide plausible suspicions that the aforementioned 27 former House of Assembly members ought to face criminal charges for their offenses:
“The aforementioned 27 former members continue to represent themselves as members of the aforementioned House of Assembly despite the fact that they are no longer members due to specific provisions of the 1999 Constitution and court decisions.”
The purpose of the decisions and actions of the aforementioned 27 former members, who are regular citizens and are no longer permitted to sit in the sacred chambers of the House of Assembly established by the 1999 Constitution, is to enter the chambers of the House and conduct proceedings with the aim of passing resolutions on the matters of the Government of Rivers State.
In light of the aforementioned, we thus need that, within 24 hours of receiving this letter, you formally and openly begin the process of arresting and prosecuting the aforementioned 27 individuals.
Be advised that necessary action will be taken to guarantee that the 27 suspects are prosecuted in compliance with the law if you disregard the demand made in this letter within 24 hours of its receipt.
“We certainly hope good judgment will win out.”
