Rt. Hon. Elvert Ekom Ayambem has been impeached as the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly. The Speaker was impeached on Wednesday by 17 members out of the 25-member House over allegations of misappropriation of funds.
Majority of the lawmakers passed a no-confidence vote on the Rt. Hon. Ayambem, about 11 months in office.
The impeachment motion was moved by Hon. Effiom Ekarika representing Calabar South 1 Constituency and seconded by Hon. Omang Charles Omang representing Bekwarra State Constituency.
Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem was elected Speaker of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly in June 2023.
Ayambem represents Ikom 2 State Constituency in the Houses of Assembly.
Channels Television’s reporter observed that a rowdy session ensued after Ayambem was impeached.
One of the lawmakers made a dash for the mace, which is the symbol of authority of the speaker.
However, the legislator with the mace refused to let go, leading to a struggle and a brawl in the the chamber.
According to the impeachment notice obtained by Channels Television on Wednesday, the lawmakers alleged that the impeached speaker misappropriated N48 million meant for the payment of electricity bills of the assembly complex and quarters.
They claimed alleged that Ayambem misappropriated 2 percent of all revenue collected by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) monthly to the tune of N404 million.
“Misappropriation of the sum of N19,437, 844.00 (Nineteen Million, Four Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Eight Hundred and forty-five Naira) from Local Government deduction and 11 months deductions which he allegedly failed to disclose to members,” the impeachment notice reads.
Credit: channelstv.com
