OrderPaperToday -A member of the House of Representatives, representing Esan/Central/West/Igueben Federal constituency, Joseph Edionwele (PDP, Edo) has urged the Green chamber to challenge in court the Presidential executive order on corruption.
The lawmaker who spoke with OrderPaperNG described the executive order as “punitive order, made in bad spirit”
It would be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari on the 5th of July signed an executive order on the preservation of suspicious assets connected with corruption and other relevant offenses.
The order also targets specific politically exposed persons who are currently being tried in courts for corruption.
Edionwele explained that the order is usurpation of the powers of both judiciary and the legislature, and total infringement on the constitution.
He said: “That executive order was made in bad spirit, if you look at the structuring, you will know that it is targeted at opponents, we have enough laws on fighting corruption, there is enough laws in the land to take care of everything in the court, so this executive order is against the law, the constitution.
“The law states that an accused is innocent until he is found guilty, this executive order negates that, it provides that they have to seize your properties first, even in that order, the schedule listed out names of people that are already in court, that they are going to seize their properties.”
He urged the executive to rescind the order or face legal action from the green chamber.
“By and large, the executive order is punitive and should be withdrawn with immediate effect.
“I am in view of the opinion that it should be challenged in court, it is against the grundnum, which is the constitution, and whatever is not consistent with the constitution is void; the House should go to court to challenge this executive order, which is infringing on our power to make law.”
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