The Cross River State House of Assembly has removed the Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Emmanuel Yakubu, over allegations of gross misconduct, despite a subsisting court order restraining his removal.
Yakubu was sacked following a voice vote during plenary, in which 19 lawmakers voted for his removal, one abstained, and five were absent.
The decision followed consideration of the report of the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution, presented by its Chairman and Deputy Leader of the House, Davies Etta.
Etta recalled that an impeachment notice had earlier been signed against Yakubu by the Ogoja Legislative Council, citing alleged gross misconduct, including abandonment of duty, disregard for constituted authority, breach of oath of secrecy, and failure to cooperate with the Council Chairman.
In line with Section 14(3) of the Cross River State Local Government Law and pursuant to Resolution No. 031, the Assembly had previously suspended Yakubu for 90 days to allow for a thorough investigation. The committee held hearings attended by the Leader of Council, ward councillors, and the Director of General Services and Administration, who represented the Head of Local Government Administration.
Etta noted that Yakubu was absent from the hearing, citing ill health, but was reportedly seen at a political rally where he publicly defected from the All Progressives Congress to the African Democratic Congress.
The committee concluded that by leaving the party that brought him into office, Yakubu demonstrated a lack of interest in his position and violated Section 20(1) of the Cross River State Local Government Law, 2007 (as amended). His conduct was described as a blatant disregard for constitutional authority, amounting to gross misconduct.
Sources confirmed that Yakubu had obtained a court order restraining the Assembly and relevant authorities from proceeding with his removal, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
