Benue Assembly Suspends Five Members Over Financial Misconduct Report

The Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended five of its members for three legislative sittings over their alleged failure to disclose vital information in a report concerning financial misconduct in Otukpo Local Government Area.

The lawmakers were sanctioned following the presentation of the ad hoc committee’s report investigating members of the House Standing Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in Makurdi.

The suspended lawmakers include:

• Mr Terna Shimawua (APC/Kyan)

• Mr Matthew Damkor (APC/Tiev)

• Mr Cephas Dyako (APC/Konshisha)

• Mr Moses Egbodo (APC/Obi)

• Mr Isaac Ochekyele (PDP/Ohimini)

During the debate, Mr Solomon Gyila (APC/Gwer West), a member of the ad hoc committee, accused the suspended members of tampering with the original report.

“Some useful information was excluded from the report. The chairman of Otukpo LGA diverted council funds and even sold government property, but these were left out,” Gyila alleged.

Mr Alfred Berger (APC/Makurdi North) went further, calling for harsher punishment against the committee chairman.

“Mr Terna Shimawua should be suspended for three months. He deliberately hid certain findings which the ad hoc committee uncovered,” Berger said.

Also speaking, Mr Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South) called for urgent security intervention, warning of possible unrest in Otukpo LGA.

“Security agencies should take over the premises of the Otukpo Local Government to forestall a breakdown of law and order,” he urged.

However, Mr Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East) cautioned his colleagues against rushing to suspend members from legislative duties.

Also Read: Benue Assembly Recalls Six Suspended Lawmakers After Apology 

“We must be careful. Suspending members from the House is demoralising. If necessary, let’s suspend them from the committee, not the entire House, and for three months only,” he advised.

In his ruling, the Speaker, Mr Hyacinth Dajoh, announced the suspension of the five members for three legislative sittings and took decisive steps to reassert control over the committee in question.

“For now, I will assume the role of Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,” Dajoh said.

He further warned that local government chairmen do not have the authority to lock up legislative chambers, a reference to the alleged actions of the Otukpo LGA Chairman, Mr Maxwell Ogiri, whose conduct was at the heart of the controversy.