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Benue Assembly Suspends 13 Lawmakers Over Chief Judge’s Removal, Orders Refund Of Travel Funds
The speaker reaffirmed the House’s condemnation of their actions and directed the suspended members to refund the funds allocated for their foreign trip to the Ministry of Finance.
Makurdi, Benue State– The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended 13 lawmakers for opposing the removal of the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese.
The suspension was announced during a plenary session in Makurdi on Wednesday and was accompanied by an order for the affected members to refund funds allocated for an upcoming foreign trip, which they will no longer attend.
The decision followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, who emphasized that the assembly, as a legislative institution, must uphold discipline and respect for its resolutions.
Tiseer noted that the assembly had been properly constituted on Tuesday, with 31 members present, when it received a petition from the Office of the Attorney-General.
The petition accused Justice Ikpambese of gross misconduct, abuse of office, bribery, and corruption. Following deliberations, 23 out of the 31 members voted in favor of his removal and the swearing-in of the next-in-line judicial officer as acting Chief Judge.
The Majority Leader condemned the dissenting lawmakers, stating that their actions violated the House Standing Order IX, Rule 58 (6), which prohibits reconsidering a matter already decided upon unless through a substantive motion for rescission.
He listed the suspended members as follows: Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), Jonathan Agbidye (APC/Katsina-Ala East), Beckie Orpin (APC/Gboko East), Simon Gabo (APC/Mata), William Ortyom (PDP/Agasha), and Emmanuel Onah (PDP/Oju I).
Others included Elias Audu (APC/Gwer East), Anyor Matu (APC/Kwande East), Manger Manger (APC/Tarka), Solomon Gyila (APC/Gwer West), Samuel Agada (APC/Ogbadibo), Abraham Jabi (APC/Buruku), and Ezra Nyiyongo (APC/Ukum).
The motion, seconded by Peter Ipusu (APC/Katsina-Ala West), condemned the actions of the suspended members, calling them outright mischief.
Ipusu argued that the members had actively participated in the debate and voted in favor of recommending the Chief Justice’s removal, only to later deny their involvement.
He further stated that the suspended members should refund funds allocated for foreign trips since they would no longer be traveling due to their suspension.
Alfred Berger (APC/Makurdi North) emphasized that the members had disrespected Speaker Dajoh and the House, warranting their continued suspension.
He insisted that the suspension should only be lifted if they publicly acknowledged their participation in the legislative process that led to their sanction.
Meanwhile, Thomas Digeri (APC/Kwande West) pleaded for a reduction of the suspension to one month.
In his ruling, Speaker Dajoh revealed that he had initially considered delaying the debate for broader consultation.
However, the suspended members insisted that the matter be concluded, participated in the vote, and then later denied their involvement.
The speaker reaffirmed the House’s condemnation of their actions and directed the suspended members to refund the funds allocated for their foreign trip to the Ministry of Finance.
