Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05LAGOS1781
2005-11-23 17:01:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Lagos
Cable title:  

BAYELSA GOVERNOR SERVED WITH IMPEACHMENT NOTICE

Tags:  PREL PGOV NI 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

231701Z Nov 05
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001781 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV NI
SUBJECT: BAYELSA GOVERNOR SERVED WITH IMPEACHMENT NOTICE

REF: LAGOS 1772

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reason 1.4 (D)

-------
SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 001781

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W
STATE FOR INR/AA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2015
TAGS: PREL PGOV NI
SUBJECT: BAYELSA GOVERNOR SERVED WITH IMPEACHMENT NOTICE

REF: LAGOS 1772

Classified By: Consul General Brian L. Browne for Reason 1.4 (D)

--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (C) Barely forty-eight hours after returning to the
country, embattled Bayelsa State Governor Alamieyeseigha was
served with a notice of impeachment endorsed by most members
of the State House of Assembly. Bayelsa's politics just
moved from hot to hotter. By this move, the State Assembly
initiated a process that could result in Alamieyeseigha's
removal from office and his loss of immunity from
prosecution. The Assembly's move probably is the result of
heavy pressure from Abuja. However, Alamieyeseigha will try
to mount pressure of his own to thwart the process. Not
surprisingly, the seventeen pro-impeachment assembly members
are not currently in Bayelsa. End summary.

-------------- --------------
BAYELSA ASSEMBLYMEN ACT WHILE IN LAGOS BECAUSE...
-------------- --------------


2. (U) Two days after Governor Alamieyeseigha jumped bail
and departed the UK disguised as a woman, the Bayelsa State
House of Assembly served him with a notice of impeachment.
Seventeen of the twenty-four member House endorsed the action.


3. (C) The Assembly had apparently moved forward with
impeachment after reviewing a report by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) detailing the charges
against the Governor. That the EFCC was threatening to
investigate Assembly members probably gave them added impetus
to take this move against the Governor. Mission sources
report the Assemblymen had in fact been brought to Lagos by
the EFCC for questioning over their own financial
irregularities, and were compelled to endorse the impeachment
or face charges of their own. The newly-designated Speaker
of the House of Assembly, Peremobowei Ebibi, made the
impeachment announcement in Lagos, where the House members
had gathered, reportedly due to the declining security
situation in Yenagoa following the Governor's return.
Peremobowei and Deputy Speaker Bright Ereware assumed the
lead Assembly roles just over a week ago, replacing former
Speaker Boyelayefa Debekeme and Deputy Speaker Jephter
Foingha, Alamieyeseigha loyalists who were removed from their
leadership positions but currently maintain their positions
as State Assemblymen.

--------------
THE IMPEACHMENT PROCESS
--------------


4. (U) Removal of a governor is covered by Section 188 of
the constitution. Now that the Governor has been served, the
House of Assembly is required to resolve by motion within
fourteen days whether or not to move forward on the
allegations listed in the notice. Such a motion requires no
less than two-thirds majority for adoption. Should the
motion be adopted, the Chief Judge of the State must, at the
request of the Speaker of the House, appoint a seven-member
panel within seven days to investigate the charges. The
investigation must be concluded within three months of the
panel's appointment. If the panel concludes the allegations
have been proven, the House of Assembly must, within fourteen
days of receipt of the panel's report, pass a resolution,
again by not less than two-thirds majority, to remove the
governor from office. Therefore, unless the Governor
resigns, the impeachment process could take roughly four
months.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


6. (C) This is the latest step in a battle between Governor
Alamieyeseigha and the Federal Government. The Governor is
clearly guilty of a litany of offenses but this struggle goes
beyond legality. It is also a political one and here the two
sides may be on more equal footing. Here, the Federal
Government is guilty of being unpopular while Alamieyeseigha
has some genuine popularity in his state although his cachet
has diminished as the news of how he escaped has been
revealed.


7. (C) Comment continued: The impeachment action raises
some tricky questions. While the constitution is silent
regarding where the Houses of Assembly must meet, one has to
wonder how long "security considerations" can keep the
Bayelsa House outside of the state. The required two-thirds
majority for impeachment is also critical, as a swing of only
two assemblymen will be sufficient to block Alamieyeseigha's
removal. Surely, the Governor will find ways to pressure
Assembly members and their families. Also, the state chief
justice has a role in the process and we do not know where
his allegiances lie. Last, we do not know how far the
Governor will go with this caper as the prospects of
confrontation between his loyalists and federal law
enforcement peers just over the horizon. End comment.
BROWNE