By: Emmanuel Utibe
The UI’SRC has on Saturday, 29th of March made a release addressed to members of the House, explaining that Nice Linus cannot be recognised as a member of the House for want of due process
The release stated that while the SRC respects court orders, it believes that due process should be followed.
“As a law-abiding body, the Students Representative Council is committed to implementing the court’s order. However, I must emphasize that due process, a fundamental principle of justice, must be strictly followed.” The release stated.
It stated that the reinstatement of Hon Linus requires her to be duly elected and then sworn in by the University management, issued an oath form to that effect from the university and also the council has to be notified through an internal memorandum from the university management.
Additionally, the release went on to state that an injunction only affords an opportunity for due process to be followed and while the current council leadership was not the one who removed her from the Honourables’ group —having been removed by the Immediate past speaker, Rt Hon Matthias— they can only add her back to the group on the reception of the appropriate documentation.
Lastly, the release advised Hon Linus to direct her letter to the appropriate quarters to expedite the conclusion of her recognition by the SRC.
The release was written as a reply to an earlier letter addressed to the Council from Hon Linus and the release was signed by the Speaker, Rt Hon Shoge and the Clerk, Hon Adedeji.
This release is coming against the backdrop of the events on inauguration day.
Hon. Linus Nice, was elected as the Awo hall majority leader but was denied the opportunity to take her oath of office alongside the other Honourables. She, along with several members of the press, was assaulted and forcibly removed from the venue of the inauguration ceremony.
This was on account of an internal memorandum from the Deputy Register, who served as the Electoral Commission head, stating that her election had been an ‘oversight’ as she was not supposed to contest given that she currently has a pending SDC case.
Nice Linus had attended the inauguration ceremony to get sworn in however she had been roughly thrown out of the hall and assaulted while many officers of the union, including members of the House did nothing about it.
It should be noted that Nice Linus gave an ultimatum to be duly recognised as a member of the house and the majority leader of the Awo hall constituency failure of which she stated will be considered contempt of court.
