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Can courts poke holes in Senate verdict on Gachagua’s impeachment? Lawyer Steve Ogolla sheds light

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  • While it has not yet reared its head on Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment, the judicial system might wield its power when the time comes
  • There is, however, an argument on this, as some quarters hold that the impeachment ends at the Senate and that the process is immune to any judicial review
  • But High Court advocate Steve Ogolla strongly avers that the role of the courts cannot be to ruled out of the impeachment; he says the courts have the role of auditing the process to check its alignment with the constitution

 

Nairobi—Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment could bring the Legislature and Judiciary to a point of clash.

Gachagua’s case is being prosecuted by the two houses of parliament.

The impeachment process intensified on October 8, when 282 MPs voted in favour of the charges against him.

Meanwhile, the deputy president has been filing petition after another to challenge the process.

Legal minds are undecided about whether the courts can alter the outcome of the ouster process upon its conclusion by the upper legislative house.

While some hold that the legislature’s verdict on Gachagua’s impeachment is final, others argue that the court can still wield its power and rule otherwise.

Litigation counsel Steve Ogolla authoritatively avers that the High Court can show up to give directions when there is that need.

While Ogolla appreciates that Gachagua’s impeachment is a preserve of the legislature, he says that upon invitation, the courts can chip in to offer interpretation, which might side with the houses of parliament or not.

He says that the court’s involvement in such matters is limited to auditing the process and reviewing the merits of the impeachment grounds to confirm that both aspects meet the Constitution’s requirements.

“They (courts) ought not to interfere with the outcome of the political process because the power of impeachment is bestowed upon the National Assembly and the Senate; but if the High Court is invited to audit the legality, propriety and constitutionality of the impeachment charges against Gachagua provided they relate to gross violation of the constitution, then the court has jurisdiction to entertain those questions and determine them. So, it is not true that the High Court has no role in the impeachment,” Ogolla told this writer.

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Chaos As Military Officers Exchange Blows During Tinubu’s Visit To Bayelsa (Videos)

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Personnel of the Nigerian military were seen engaging in a fight during the visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Bayelsa on Friday.

In a video spotted on social media, the driver of a Hilux vehicle marked “Naval Police” was seen stepping down from his vehicle and exchanging words with another driver.

After returning to his vehicle, another driver with a rifle approached him and threw a punch at the Naval Police driver, triggering a brawl.

The incident quickly escalated into a free-for-all, with personnel attached to both vehicles exchanging blows, while stunned civilians watched in disbelief.

The cause of the altercation could not be immediately ascertained as of press time.

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HRH Ekwueme of Ochia Kingdom Iynched & kiIIed in Imo.

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Gunmen on Friday night killed the traditional ruler of Ochia, Barr Paulinus Ekwueme, alongside security operatives in the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State. The attackers ambushed the monarch at the boundary of Assa and Ochia communities after he returned from a trip abroad earlier in the week.

Some security operatives in his convoy were also shot dead. Eyewitness said the monarch and the security operatives were set ablaze after the killing, adding that the Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area had been thrown into mourning.

Hrm lives in America, but some in his town accuse him of acquiring lots of wealth coming from the oil in their land and yet they have no nepa (light) and other amenities, and that this angered the youths of his community to take this step. One said Ms Duruaku wrote, “he ate the youth empowerment meant given to him by shell oil company and ran abroad for years”


#Ekwutosblog

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Abuja hotel collapse: Wike orders arrest of owner, to convert land to public use

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has ordered the immediate arrest of the owner of a multi-story hotel that collapsed in Jikwoyi, Abuja last Friday, April 4 and announced that the land would be seized for public use.

LIB had reported that the building crumbled while workers were on site, triggering an emergency response from relevant authorities.

Visiting the site today April 7, Wike said the building was constructed without approval from the FCT Department of Development Control and that all the stop-work notices sent to the builders were ignored by the developer.

Wike confirmed that while there were no fatalities, several people sustained injuries and were taken to the hospital. He warned that the outcome could have been far worse.

Announcing the government’s plans for the land, Wike said the FCT Administration will take over the land for public use, noting that those responsible for the illegal construction will face prosecution in accordance with the law.

He added that the local community would be consulted to determine a suitable public-purpose project for the reclaimed site.

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