Following the public outcry elicited by the invitation of Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper by the Imo State House of Assembly, over the alleged diversion of 65 bags of rice by the member representing Orlu State Constituency, Hon Martin Ihezuo, an Owerri based legal practitioner and All Progressive Congress(APC)Chieftain, Barr Eze Okafor, CFE, has written the House, to put the records straight.
The erudite lawyer in the letter, said, “the Imo State House of Assembly does not have such powers.
The house can only make laws that would affect the operation and business, but lack the locus to issue such summons.
If Imo House truely issued such summons, it means we are heading to lawlessness. Imo House of Assembly under the constitution is law making creation of the constitution.
It has no such impetus to summon private individuals or citizens, such cannot also be recognised under its oversight function.
Let us not reduce our state to public ridicule while trying to prove a wrong point.
The best any person affected by a newspaper publication would be a civil action for Libel or criminal action for criminal defamation.
Using instrument of the state will backfire and would definitely put the state into public ridicule”.
