Lawan yet to swear in Cross River senator-elect — a month after s’court victory

Senate President Ahmad Lawan is yet to swear in Arigbe Jarigbe as senator representing Cross River north more than a month after the supreme court affirmed the latter’s election.

On February 25, the apex court upheld the judgment of the court of appeal which declared Jarigbe as the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a split decision, the supreme court dismissed the appeal filed by Stephen Odey who had been declared winner of the senatorial rerun by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Cletus Nweze, the lead judge, also faulted the service of the notice of appeal to the defendants, saying the manner in which it was served amounted to a non-service and therefore, infringes on the respondents’ right to fair hearing.

Weeks before the judgement, INEC already obeyed the court of appeal directive and issued the certificate of return to Jarigbe after withdrawing it from Odey.

But the senator-elect is yet to be sworn in more than two months after receiving the certificate and a month after the matter was laid to rest at the supreme court.

An enquiry sent to the senate president’s office concerning the matter is yet to be responded.

When he recently addressed journalists in Abuja, Jarigbe, who is a serving member of the house of representatives, had asked Lawan to stop Odey from attending plenary sessions.

“My opponent who has been ousted by the judgement of the appeal court and the supreme court is still attending plenary (and)m that is illegal,” he had said.

“I have the certificate of return issued to me by INEC based on the judgement of the appeal court which invalidated his certificate of return and that has been transmitted to the national assembly.”