At its Sitting on Tuesday, May 9, 2017, the Sixth AKHA resolved to summon Mrs. Elsie Esara, Chairman Transition Committee, Itu Local government area council to appear on the floor of the House on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 at 10 am.
The summon was consequent upon the refusal of the Chairman to appear before the House on Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs to offer explanations on the petition against her bordering on lack of due process and transparency in the administration of Itu Local Government Council.
The Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs who gave an interim report at plenary recommended that the Chairman of the Transition Committee be summoned to appear before the House having failed twice to response to invitation of the Committee.
The Clerk on the directive of the Speaker,b Mrs Esara was summoned to appear before the House in plenary on Wednesday , May 10, 2017, Mrs. Esara responded to the invitation. The Speaker, presiding as Chairman of the Committee of the whole, received and introduced the Mrs Esara to the House and further briefed Members on the mission of Mrs. Esara.
RESPONSE BY MRS. ESARA ON THE ISSUES.
Mrs Esara informed the House that she is a Master Degree holder in Education, a wife and a mother. she went on to say that she has worked in the federal civil service and retired as deputy director. she was also the coorduinator of credible women group being appointed Chairman.
REFUSAL TO RESPOND TO THE INVITATION OF THE COMMITTEE
Mrs Esara claimed that she had a "blackout" and fainted on her way to the House of Assembly to honour the invitation of the Committee.
Mrs Esara said she also noticed that the whole petition was publicized in the media and online and as such, she needed to protect her integrity and that of her family.
she did not also honour the second invitation because she was scared and also recovering from her "blackout".
LAW SUIT AGAINST THE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
When confronted with the letter written by Samuel. J. Ikpo Esq. (addressed tom the Speaker), stating that she will not be able to appear before the House Committee until the case was determined, Mrs Esara denied knowledge of the letter and further claimed that she did not instruct her counsel to author the letter but employed him to handle her law suit.
She informed the House that she has withdrawn the case; that she was ill-advised by her mentor to file the law suit, adding that she regret her action. when asked who her mentors are, she mentioned the following persons:
1 Sen. Anietie Okon 2, Dr. Henry Archibong, Itu/Ibiono federal House member, 3 Mr. Akan Okon, Commissioner for Housing and Special Duties, 4, Hon. Idongesit Ituen, 5, Mr. Ebong Okon.
Mrs. Esara however added that she only consulted Sen. Anietie Okon out of the five earlier mentioned and he advised her to institute the case against the House. Mrs. Esara further disclosed that she neither consulted other stakeholders in Itu, the State in general, nor those who appointed her the position before taking the action.
KNOWLEDGE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AS AMENDED AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION LAW OF AKWA IBOM STATE::
Mrs. Esara further admitted that she has breached both the Oath of Office and Oath of Allegiance which she subscribed to as a Public Officer.
FINDINGS OF THE HOUSE.
1. Breach of the Oath of Office of Allegiance:
2. Breach of constitutional provisions on the functions of the House of Assembly
3. Mrs Esara lacks capacity to hold or continue to hold public office, having shown her inability to respect, protect and uphold the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria , the Grund Norm and not being law abiding.
4. That up to date, the House has not been served with the notice of discontinuance of the law suit she brought against the House.
5. That Mrs. Esara, can neither take an independent decision or responsibility nor accept responsibility over her actions or inactions. she blames other for her actions; her oral testimony before the House was doubtful and unconvincing.
6. That Mrs. Esara has no regard for constituted authority and cannot be relied upon in matters of public interest.
RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE HOUSE;
1. That Mrs. Esara should appear, before the House Committee on Local Government and Chaiftancy Affairs on the invitation of the Committee to answer to the petition brought against her:
2. The House, urges His Excellency Deacon Udom Emmanuel to sanction Mrs. Elsie Esara for breaching her Oath of Office, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the Akwa Ibom State Local Government Administration Law to serve as deterrent to others.
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