Benue assembly extends suspension of former Speaker, majority leader by 3 months
Fom Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Benue State House of Assembly on Tuesday at its plenary, extended the suspension of the former Speaker Hyacinth Aondona Dajo and the Majority Leader Tiseer Saater for another 3 months.
The House had earlier suspended Dajoh who represents Gboko West State Constituency and Saater that represents Mbagwa constituency for 6 months on allegation of plot to impeach the state governor.
Dajoh is currently challenging his suspension at the court. He has since defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, from the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Dajoh raised an uproar recently during the celebration of his 50th birthday in Gboko, claiming that he was removed as Speaker because of his vehement refusal to sign a document to move the Tor Tiv Palace from the traditional home of Gboko to Ihugh, the State Governor’s home country, alleging too, discrepanies in the award of contract for renovation of the assembly complex.
Responding to the claim, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Sir Tersoo Kula described it as ‘blatant falsehood’, ‘baseless’ and ‘imaginary’.
Kula said the Governor demanded to know why such a correspondent from the Executive was not read on the floor of the House as procedure demands, noting that Benue State House of Assembly was not Dajoh ‘s private establishment and as such letter sent to the Assembly from the Executive cannot be turned down by the fiat of a Speaker.
“So, we challenge Dajoh to make public the letter he alleged the Governor sent to him to relocate the Tor Tiv Palace to Ihugh”, the CPS had said.
Meanwhile, at the sitting, Majority leader, Thomas Dugeri who presented the motion, explained that the initial six months suspension handed the two lawmakers last year had elapsed and were due for recall.
Dugeri however, pointed out that Dajoh and Tiseer took the House to court to challenge their suspension, saying it is against parliamentary practice to consider any matter before the court of law.
He therefore, urged his colleagues to extend the suspension of the two for another three months pending the determination of the matter in court.
Members unanimously agreed not to deliberate on the matter but allow it to be concluded in the court.
The Speaker, Alfred Emberga insisted that Dajoh and Tiseer must withdraw their cases in court and write an apology letter to the House before they can be recalled.
