Some female lawyers have criticized the House of Representatives over delay in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court on the swearing in of Dorothy Mato as member representing Vandekya/Konshisa Federal Constituency of Benue State.
The Supreme Court presided by the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen had on June 23 declared Mato the rightful winner of the 2015 election and sacked Herman Hembe.
The apex court also directed Hembe to refund all the salaries/allowances and or emoluments he collected while occupying the seat in the House within 90 days of the order.
So far neither the order for swearing-in nor to refund allowances has been complied with by the House of Representatives.
Speaking on the development, former president of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria, Hauwa Shekarau advised Mato to utilize legal remedies available to claim her mandate.
“She should to go back to court, and let the court know that its order was not being obeyed. There is a process through which that can be done, which is by applying for an order of execution, and contempt of court against the authority that failed to carry out the judgment of the Supreme Court,” she said.
Speaking in the same vein, Betty Umegbulem, former Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abuja chapter, said since she has lawyers they should do the needful by returning to court to seek enforcement of the order.
