The Court of Appeal in Ilorin yesterday nullified the suspension of a lawmaker in the Kwara State House of Assembly, Iliasu Ibrahim.

The lawmaker representing Ipaye/Malete/Oloru constituency was suspended twice in the House, but his suspension was nullified by the state High Court in a judgement delivered on June 16, 2014.

The House then filed a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, but the motion was dismissed in March, 2015, paving way for the lawmaker to resume.

When the lawmaker attempted to resume at the House, he was turned back at the gate of the legislative chamber by security agents, who claimed to be acting on the order of the House leadership.

The tenure of the present house is expected to lapse today (Thursday) when the 8th Assembly would be inaugurated.

The Court of Appeal in the appeal number CA/IL/155/2014 filed by the House, Speaker Razak Atunwa and Yusuf Tanke against the lawmaker gave a unanimous judgement yesterday upholding the earlier verdict of the High Court.

The court described the suspension of the lawmaker, who is a member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as illegal, null and void. The appellate court in the judgement delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam ordered the payment of salaries, allowances and other entitlements of the suspended lawmaker. The court equally awarded N100, 000 cost against the appellants including the House, Speaker Atunwa and Tanke.

Reacting to the verdict, Counsel to the reinstated lawmaker, Abeni Mohammed, said he expects the House to implement the judgement immediately even if it intends to go to the Supreme Court.