BY OKEY NDIRIBE AND EMMAN OVUAKPORIE
ABUJA- The  House of Representatives has directed  various security agencies in the country to close down the Kogi State House of Assembly until the release of  the report of its mediation Committee on the crisis rocking the Assembly.

This was confirmed  yesterday by a member of the Committee  Hon. Nkem Abonta while speaking to Saturday Vanguard in a telephone interview.It was also gathered that  Lower Chamber’s decision to shut down the Kogi Assembly was contained in a letter entitled ‘Enrolled Order,’ dated October 30, 2012.

It was learnt that the letter which was addressed to the Clerk and members of Kogi State Assembly and heads of  the various security agencies in the country was signed by the Deputy Chief Whip and Chairman, House Ad-hoc committee to mediate in the Kogi State Assembly crisis, Hon Mukhtar Ahmed  Mohammed .

The Reps  committee directed the security agencies  to ensure full compliance with its order.

It was learnt that the lawmakers  also directed the Clerk of the Kogi State House of Assembly and all other supporting staff not to recognize any group of members or  leadership pending the outcome of the Ad-Hoc committee’s mediation.

The letter stated that “Having interacted with various segments, persons and members of the Kogi State Assembly and other stakeholders from Kogi State, it is clear and apparent that two groups of members of the House of Assembly are claiming the leadership of the said Assembly.

According to the letter: “Pursuant to Section 11 (1) and (4) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), it is the opinion of the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee to mediate in the Kogi State Assembly crisis that by reason of the prevailing situation, the Kogi State Assembly cannot legitimately perform its duties.”

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives  had  last month set up a  seven-man committee to  intervene in the crisis rocking the State House of  Assembly.

The Deputy Chief Whip  of the House Hon  Ahmed  Murktar Mohammed was appointed as Chairman of the Committee.  Other members are Hassan Ibrahim El-Sudi, Sokonte Davis, Pally Iriase, Nkem Abonta, Ali Ahmad and Adams Jagaba.

Some members  of the Kogi Assembly  had earlier in October  claimed they removed  the Speaker, Abdullahi Bello, and 10 other principal officers of the House.

The  alleged impeachment was the culmination of a running feud  between the Speaker and some members. Prior to this  development, the Speaker had raised alarm that some members were moving against him.

The Speaker had  dismissed his removal as unconstitutional , insisting that the number of members that voted for his alleged  ouster were 12, five short of the constitutionally required number to carry out the exercise.