The Benue State House of Assembly has recommended the immediate suspension of the Otukpo Local Government Area Chairman, Hon. Maxwell Ogiri, for six months, following allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office.
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During a plenary session presided over by Speaker Rt. Hon. Hyacinth Aondona Dajoh, on Thursday, the assembly also recommended the immediate swearing-in of the deputy chairman to assume leadership of the local government council.
The decision followed a report by the Committee on Local Government, Security, and Chieftaincy Affairs detailing its interactions with Chairman Ogiri over alleged diversion of government funds to his private account and his illegal closure of the local government legislative chambers.
The assembly expressed strong disapproval of what it termed misappropriation and diversion of funds, harassment of councillors, and the unauthorised closure of the legislative chamber. These actions prompted lawmakers to call for Ogiri’s immediate suspension from office.
To ensure a thorough investigation of the matter, the House constituted a five-member panel chaired by Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu. The panel includes Hon. Michael Audu, Hon. Cyril Ekong, Hon. Solomon Gyila, and Hon. Berger Alfred as members, with Mr. Bem Abunde serving as secretary. The panel has been tasked with investigating the activities of the Local Government, Security, and Chieftaincy Affairs committee and must submit its findings to the House within one week.
In a related development, the assembly strongly condemned the harassment of the Deputy Speaker by alleged supporters of the Ado Local Government Chairman. The House urged the Nigeria Police and the Department of State Services (DSS) to intervene immediately to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Terver Zamber, announced the assembly’s decisions in a statement released Thursday.
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