The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended its former Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, for three months over allegations that he attempted to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The decision came on Tuesday, August 26, after a motion was moved by Terna Shimawua, who represents Kyan Constituency, and seconded by James Umoru from Apa Constituency.
In a dramatic twist, Shimawua was one of the lawmakers suspended last Friday by Dajoh before his resignation as Speaker.
Ruling on the motion, the new Speaker, Alfred Berger, reduced the suspension from six months to three without calling for the usual voice vote.
The Assembly also reversed its earlier stance on Governor Alia’s cabinet nominees. It confirmed Timothy Yangien Ornguga, a law lecturer at Benue State University, who was previously rejected under Dajoh’s leadership.
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Reading a fresh letter from the governor, Berger also screened and cleared five additional nominees, including Ornguga and James Dwem.
The Speaker explained, “The governor believes the two nominees have not been convicted of any crime despite the petitions submitted against them, hence the appeal to clear them.”
Lawmakers who had earlier opposed their confirmation stayed silent as Berger declared them confirmed without the usual voting process.
In another move, the Assembly lifted the suspension placed on three political office holders by the governor.
They include 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.