The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended five lawmakers for allegedly tampering with a committee report on the activities of the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri.
The suspension, which will last for three legislative sittings, was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by Terver Zamber, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the House.
According to the statement, the suspended lawmakers—Hon. Shimawua Terna, Hon. Mathew Damkor, Hon. Cephas Dyako, Hon. Moses Egbodo, and Hon. Isaac Echekliye—are all members of the House Standing Committee on Local Government, Security, and Chieftaincy Affairs.
“During the presentation of the report on the floor of the House, the chairman and members of the committee deviated from the real findings,” the statement read.
Dissatisfied with the report, the House constituted a five-member ad hoc committee, chaired by Hon. Ipusu, to conduct a fresh investigation and uncover the true state of affairs.
“The House consequently suspended all members of the standing committee for three sittings for allegedly covering up the truth about misappropriation, abuse of office, and the illegal closure of the Legislative Chamber by the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, in an apparent attempt to shield him from accountability,” the statement added.
