Nasarawa Assembly suspends six members indefinitely


The Nasarawa State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended its six members for accusing the leadership of taking bribe from the executive to support the appointment and swearing in of Sole Administrators of the Local Government Areas.

The Assembly members had on Monday, barely two hours after Gov Al-Makura had sworn in the sole administrators engaged in a free for all fight between those in support and those opposed to the action. The fight which took place on the floor of the assembly saw the lawmakers freely use tables, chairs and even the mast including their fists to attack each other.

The suspended members have said they would approach the court to challenge the action.

But on the contrary, the deputy speaker of the house, Honourable Godiya Akwashiki, who presided over the sitting has debunked the allegation raised by the House committee chairman on Information, Malla. He challenged them to provide video backed evidence saying if there is no such clue then the six erring lawmakers stand suspended from the house indefinitely and without allowances.

The motion sailed through by the 13 members who sat and moved for the suspension of the 6.

The six suspended lawmakers have resorted to seek redress in the court and working towards inviting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission into the state for investigations of misappropriations of public funds.

While inaugurating the eleven sole administrators in Government House Lafia, the governor said given the circumstances which led to the dissolution of the local government chairmen in the state as was moved in a motion by the state house of assembly, government was therefore compelled to appoint the sole administration as children of necessity for the sustenance of the local government system.

Recall that High court 4 which sat in Lafia on March 23, 2016 nullified the petitioned filed by the eleven local chairmen seeking for interpretation of their tenure elongation from two to three years in office.

While inaugurating them the governor said "Government has considered it necessary to have the local government system continue without a breakdown of law which I have done as a patriotic citizen who has respect for the rule of law.

"Thirteen lawmakers and me have voted in support of a motion moved for the suspension of the six lawmakers who misbehaved during our sitting on Monday. They are Kassim Mohammed-Kassim (APC-Akwanga South), Murtala Sodangi(APC-Nasarawa Central), Mohammed Okpoku (APC-Udege/ Loko, Musa Ali(APC-Keffi East), Makpa Malla (APC-Wamba) and Abubakar Kana (APC-Kokona West)."

According to the Deputy Speaker, the above lawmakers will be suspended from the House without pay.

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