The Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended five of its members for three sittings over alleged tampering with a committee report concerning the activities of the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Hon. Maxwell Ogiri.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, Terver Zamber, the suspended lawmakers were named as Hon. Shimawua Terna, Hon. Mathew Damkor, Hon. Cephas Dyako, Hon. Moses Egbodo, and Hon. Isaac Echekliye. All five are members of the House Standing Committee on Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs.
According to the statement, the committee had been mandated to investigate allegations of misappropriation of local government funds, abuse of office, and the closure of the Legislative Chamber by the Otukpo Chairman.
However, when the report was presented on the floor of the House, the Speaker’s office said the committee deviated from its actual findings.
Unsatisfied with the outcome, the House set up a five-member ad hoc committee led by Hon. Ipusu to carry out a further probe and uncover the true situation.
“The House therefore suspended the committee members for three sittings for suppressing the truth regarding misappropriation, abuse of office, and unlawful closure of the Legislative Chamber by the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, with the intent of shielding him from accountability,” the statement added.