Thirteen (13) members of the 10th Benue Assembly have been suspended by their own colleagues for “Dishonourable actions capable of casting aspersions and causing acrimony in the House.”
The suspension of the 13 followed a motion, by the Majority Leader, Comr. Saater Tiseer, at an emergency sitting of the House to the effect that by the press conference wherein the 13 publicly dissociated themselves from the process they participated in contravenes Order IX, Rule 58(6) of the House Standing Rules.
On Tuesday, the 10th Benue Assembly presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon Aondona Dajo, recommended the suspension of the Chief Judge of Benue State, Honourable Justice Ahemba Ikpambese, in a 23: 8 vote. TNT could not independently confirm the figures.
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Terver Zamber, in a statement yesterday, said the Chief Judge was recommended for suspension by the House to allow investigation on allegations bothering on abuse of office, misappropriation and mismanagement of the Budgetary Allocation and Finances of the Benue State Judiciary; Engagement with politicians and political office holders for favourable judicial outcomes; Indirect participation and incitement of the industrial actions against the State executive; Acts of bribery and corruption; and undue favoritism and dire insistence on cronies holding unmerited positions.
However, the suspended 13 lawmakers, led by Douglass Akya, Makurdi South (APC), distanced themselves from the development. The 13 are: Douglas Akya (Makurdi South); Jonathan Agbidye (Katsina-Ala East); Beckie Orpin (Gboko East); Simon Gabo (Ushongo-Mata); Williams Ortyom (Agasha); Onah Blessed (Oju 1); and Elias Audu (Gwer East).
Others are Anyor Mato (Kwande East), Manger Manger (Tarka), Solomon Gyila (Gwer West), Samuel Agada (Ogbadibo), Abraham Jabi (Buruku), and Ezra Nyiyongo (Ukum).
They were suspended for three months and asked to “refund the funds paid to them for foreign trips to government coffers since they will no longer be embarking on the journey.”
