A Kogi State High court sitting in Lokoja has voided the suspension of Friday Makama, the member representing Igalamela Odolu constituency in the state House of Assembly.

Makama, who was suspended on March 28, 2017 over alleged anti-legislative activities, had dragged the Assembly to court challenging his suspension.

Justice Henry Olusuyi, in his ruling, held that Makama’s suspension was ‘invalid, illegal and unconstitutional’, Punch reports.

He noted that the suspended lawmaker had the right to sue the first defendant, adding that he could only be validly suspended if he flouted rules 37 to 39 of the House.

The court ordered that Makama’s entitlements as a member of the House should be given to him.

Speaking shortly after the ruling, counsel for the plaintiff, Promise Ogbadu, described the judgment as symbolic and profound.

He said, “This is a point that cannot be overemphasised because every member of a legislative House is elected by his or her constituents to represent them for a fixed term. It is unacceptable for any legislative House or members to gang up and start abridging the right of citizens’ representative, contrary to the law of the land.

“To that extent, we hope and pray that the judgment will give a profound direction to both the Kogi State House of Assembly and other legislative Houses in the country on the ambits of their powers in relation to their members.”