Benue crisis worsens as assembly suspends APC members

The Benue state House of Assembly has suspended the lawmakers who served an impeachment notice on Samuel Ortom, governor of the state.

The lawmakers, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), accused the governor of embezzlement, and gave him seven days to respond to the allegations.

The plot to oust Ortom is reportedly being coordinated by Terkimbi Ikyange who was removed as speaker of the assembly last week.

A source told National Daily that Ikyange and the lawmakers opposed to the governor forced their way into the assembly complex with the support of the police.

Ikyange told journalists that the house has given a seven-day ultimatum to the governor to respond to all the alleged misconduct and corruption charges against him. He said the lawmakers were angered by the alleged misappropriation of N54 billion from the state’s coffers.

Giving a breakdown of the funds, Ikyange alleged that N22 billion was embezzled from the security vote while N32 billion was from local government funds.

But in reaction, the Peoples’ Democratic Party lawmakers who are the majority, accuse their colleagues of court contempt and holding illegal plenary.

Last week, a court in Makurdi presided over by Adam Onum, a judge, restrained Terkimbi ikyange, impeached speaker, from parading himself as head of the assembly.

Those suspended by the PDP legislators are Terkimbi ikyange, impeached speaker, Adanyi Benjamin, Terhemba Chabo, Benjamin Nungwa, Bem Mngutyo, Adams Okloho, James Okefe and Nick Eworo.

On Friday, the legislators scaled the fence into the assembly but could not enter the chamber. The 22 who are loyal to the governor then converged on the government house to hold plenary.

At the sitting, a six-week suspension was imposed on Ikyange. They accused him of allegedly disparaging the house by mobilising security operatives to the assembly.

They also called on the police to immediately vacate the assembly complex “as there were no security threats to lives and property”.