The Benue House of Assembly has suspended its former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aondona Dajoh, for three months over allegations of attempting to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.
Rt. Hon. Dajoh resigned as Speaker on Sunday, citing good faith and the best interest of the state.
The motion for Dajoh’s suspension was moved by Rt. Hon. Terna Shimawua, representing Kyan State Constituency, and seconded by James Umoru from Apa State Constituency.
Rt. Hon. Shimawua was one of the lawmakers suspended by Dajoh last week before his resignation as Speaker.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Alfred Berger, reviewed Dajoh’s suspension from six to three months without the usual votes on such matters.
In a surprising turn of events, the Assembly confirmed the nomination of Timothy Ornguga as Commissioner, despite previously rejecting him under Dajoh’s leadership.
Ornguga is a law lecturer at Benue State University.
Governor Alia appealed for the clearance of Ornguga and James Dwem, citing lack of conviction for any crime despite petitions submitted against their nominations.
Surprisingly, lawmakers who previously opposed their confirmation kept quiet when the speaker confirmed the two nominees without voice votes.
The House also lifted the suspension on three political office holders earlier suspended by the governor:
They are the Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board, Grace Adagba; the Otukpo Local Government Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri; and the Secretary of the State Lottery Board, Michael Uper.
