The Chief Whip of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement in Opposition (SPLM IO) in the national parliament on Wednesday appealed to Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba to allow the suspended SPLM-IO legislator, Daniel Juol Nhomngek access the house, saying his blockage is not legal.
Nhomngek was suspended from attending parliamentary sessions after he accused the speaker of abuse of office when he alleged that attempted to embezzle SSP 12 million.
On 14 April, the Assembly Business Committee (ABC) held a closed meeting about the corruption allegations and defamation of the speaker by the SPLM-IO lawmaker and resolved that Nhomngek immediately apologize to the speaker and withdraw his corruption charges within seven working days.
However, Nhomngek refused to budge and apologize and was suspended from the house.
SPLM-IO chief whip Farouk Gatkouth Kam on Wednesday took to the floor, in the absence of Speaker Kumba, and appealed to the house to allow Nhomngek access parliament, saying that suspending an honorable member when his immunity is still active is unprocedural.
“We have our colleague Daniel Juol Nhomngek who has been suspended and has been prevented access to the premises of the house. The suspension is fully the duty of the speaker and we have talked about it and protested about it. If we are responded to, it is okay and if not, then it is out of our hands” he said. “But to prevent him from the premises of the house when he is still a member, his membership has not been waived or dismissed, or his immunity is not been waived, then we see there is no reason and it becomes unprocedural.”
“In the letter which they used to suspend Nhomngek, they quoted article 59 (3)3 of the suspension but to my surprise, there was a new article added, Article 7 which has not been addressed by the suspension in one way or the other,” Gatkouth added.
He maintains that Nhomngek has the right to access parliament.
However, First Deputy Speaker Oyet Nathaniel who chaired Wednesday’s sitting said that according to regulation 57 of the Conduct of Business, whoever has been suspended by the speaker ceases to enter the premises of parliament.
“You know that whoever is under suspension according to regulation 57, he or she should withdraw from the parliament whether in our main headquarters or wherever the assembly holds its sittings,” Oyet said.