EDHA CRISIS: Samuel Efezokhe is an Impostor - Okhani

By Simeon OSAJIE

The Chairman, Edo State House of Assembly Service Commission has debunked claim by one Samuel Efezokhe that he is an legislative clerk of the Edo State House Assembly.

In a press statement made available to journalists issued and signed by the Chairman, Edo State House of Assembly Service Commission, Mr. Okhani Ralph said, "from available records, Mr Efezokhe retired from the services of the Edo state House of Assembly as a Deputy Legislative Clerk in 2019."

He emphasized: "We wish to state categorically that the said Mr. Samuel Efezokhe is neither a serving staff nor a Legislative Clerk of the Edo State House of Assembly, as contained in the media reports. There can only be one goal for the deliberate misinformation- to propagate falsehood and mislead the general public."

"Going by the established rules of the House, the only officer who is so  empowered to conduct or superintend over the swearing in of House Members is the Clerk of the House. A Deputy Clerk can only perform the function if the Clerk is either indisposed or delegates such an authority but, in this case, none of such conditions was met during the purported swearing in of those members. We seriously view the actions and/or inactions of the members as a breach of legislative rules.

"Likewise, we state with emphasis that Mr Efezokhe is an "impostor" who has decided to sell his soul to the political warlords  at a time he ought to be home enjoying his retirement. From his actions, Mr Efezokhe has shown that he is a willing tool in the hands of "retrogressive forces" who do not wish our dear State well. We, therefore, expect the law to deal decisively with all those behind the plot to sabotage the peoples will.

"Much as we vehmently condemn the purported illegality which these provocateurs attempted to foist on the State, we wish to also remind them of the Supreme Court judgement which expressly stated that any legislative activity undertaken outside the hallowed chambers is null and void."

Okhani Ralph urges the media and other stakeholders to disregard the purported swearing in exercise as an illegality influenced  by  paranoid politicians who have lost relevance and are completely disconnected from Edo people.