By Asuquo Cletus
The Cross River State House of Assembly has mandated the immediate arrest of Hon. Kingsley Agbor Ekuri, the councillor representing Ajassundo Ward in Etung Local Government Area, over allegations of gross misconduct, insubordination, and threats to public order.
Hon. Ekuri, who had earlier been suspended by the Etung Legislative Council, was subjected to further scrutiny during a legislative hearing on Monday. The session, presided over by Hon. Eyo Bassey, Chairman of the Assembly’s Committee on Local Government and representative of Bakassi in the House, reaffirmed his suspension following findings of revenue mismanagement and disregard for constituted authority.
Reports presented at the hearing indicated that the embattled councillor had openly challenged the Executive Chairman of Etung LGA, Hon. Henry Njar Anom, over revenue allocations. Furthermore, he was accused of physically assaulting the Special Adviser on Security to the Chairman and displaying outright disrespect towards the Leader of the Legislative Council.
The hearing was attended by key stakeholders, including the Chairman of Etung LGA, the Leader of the Legislative Council, and the Special Adviser on Peace and Security, all of whom provided testimonies substantiating the allegations against Hon. Ekuri.
Following deliberations, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem, declared that Hon. Ekuri’s actions constituted egregious misconduct, necessitating both his suspension and immediate apprehension. Security agencies were subsequently directed to effect his arrest and commence investigations into his alleged role in destabilising peace in Ajassor and the wider Etung Local Government Area.
Although the Speaker refrained from further comments at the time of filing this report, sources confirmed that Hon. Ekuri was taken into custody shortly after the hearing. Investigations remain ongoing to ascertain the full extent of his infractions and determine any additional sanctions he may face.
