The long-drawn battle for the head of the embattled Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council, Abasiama Etukakpan has ended as Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly adopted his removal from office.
The House made the resolution Tuesday, August 24, 2021 during its plenary after an indepth consideration of the report of a seven-man Ad-hoc Committee at the committee of the whole.
The seven-nan Investigation Committee headed by Rt. Hon. Aniefiok Denis said Etukakpan was adjudged guilty against the claims of threats towards the Leader of the Legislative Council and other councillors.
Details of the Committee’s observation reads “That on the 3rd day of August, 2021 at about 2 p.m, Etukakpan accosted the Leader of Oruk Anam Legislative Council just after Ikot Oku Ikono flyover and threatened to deal with him both physically and spiritually if he does not call members of Oruk Anam Legislative Council to order and stop forthwith, any attempt to impeach him. This was not denied.”
The report further stated that “Hon. Etukakpan conscripted his political acolytes and cronies into sending a series of messages threatening and intimidating the Leader of the Legislative Council, regarding the impeachment process launched against him. This was not disputed by the impeached Vice Chairman.
“That Hon. Etukakpan instructed and/or caused his family – Ikot Akpan Obong, Nung Ikot, Ikot Udo Offiong of Oruk Anam Local Government Area to send a letter dated 8th August, 2021 and signed by Chief Abel Etukakpan (family Head) and 3 others through ‘UPS Courier Service,’ attempting to further intimidate the Leader of the Legislative Council in connection with the impeachment process initiated against him. This was not refuted, and the letter was submitted as evidence to the Committee.
“That Section 94 of the Criminal Code Law, CAP 38, Laws of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria, 2000 criminalizes the act of threatening a person’s life and/or property for any reason whatsoever.”
While still considering the Committee’s report, it was also revealed that Section 375 of the Criminal Code Law also “criminalizes the act of threatening a person’s life, reputation or property or lives, reputation and/or property of anyone he/she is interested in, for the purpose of preventing him/her from doing a particular thing and/or compelling him/her to do that which he/she would not have done.”
The findings also revealed that the Vice Chairman’s action was totally unlawful and constitute threat to the life of the Leader of the Council, Hon. Sunday Festus Akpan.
It was also reported that the ousted Vice Chairman’s actions were in breach of the provisions of the Criminal Code Law, 2000 and amount to “gross misconduct” as defined by Section 44 sub 14 of the Local Government Administration Law 2017.
Aside the above findings, the then Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam LGA Hon. Abasiama Etukakpan was alleged not to be consistent in office and official functions to the notice of the people of Oruk Anam LGA.
The accuracy of all the allegations levelled against the impeached Vice Chairman was not contested.
However, after due consideration of the report, the recommendation to remove the Vice Chairman, Hon. Abasiama Etukakpan was upheld by the House and the Clerk, Mrs Mandu Umoren was asked to communicate the House resolution to the Executive Governor and other relevant authorities.
The 9th sitting of the third session of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on Thursday, August 12, 2021 received an impeachment notice and set up a 7-Man Ad-hoc Committee chaired by Rt. Hon. Aniefiok Denis of Etinan State Constituency and the Deputy Leader of the House to investigate the matter.
Recall that a petition signed by two-third Oruk Anam councilors, which impeached Mr. Abasiama Etukakpan on March 23, 2021, citing false declaration of age as reason.
At its Plenary on Thursday, July 15, 2021, the State House of Assembly received two separate petitions on the matter.
The petitions were read by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions, Hon. Victor Ekwere.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Bassey, referred the matter to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs headed by Rt. Hon. Mark Esset.
The Speaker urged the Committee to investigate the petition and report back within one month.
Presenting the Committee’s report at Tuesday’s plenary, Rt. Hon. Mark Esset pointed out that Hon. Abasiama Etukakpan was in the first instance, not served any official notice of impeachment.
Based on this, the House ordered immediate reinstatement of Vice Chairman of Oruk Anam Local Government Council and payment of all entitlements to the estranged Vice chairman on August 3, declaring invalid and unconstitutional the purported swearing in of another Vice Chairman.
Yet, the Oruk Anam Local Government Council ignored the house resolution but rolled out another impeachment notice on August 12 and forwarded same to the house.
