Eight APC lawmakers move against Ortom
There was drama yesterday when eight of the 30-member Benue State House of Assembly reconvened and initiated impeachment proceedings against the Governor Samuel Ortom who dumped the (APC) and re-joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) last Wednesday.
The eight lawmakers who gained access into the Benue State House of Assembly chambers to begin the impeachment process included Terkimbi Ikyange who was ‘impeached’ Tuesday last week; Barr. Adanyi Benjamin, Terhemba Chabo, Benjamin Nungwa, Bem Mngutyo, Adams Okloho, Nick Eworo and James Okefe who was the ‘impeached’ deputy speaker.
But Governor Ortom described the impeachment threat as laughable and illegal, saying he would employ all legal means to tackle it.
The governor also described the development as impunity of the highest order as he lamented the “heavy deployment of policemen and DSS acting on the directive of the Inspector General of Police and Director General of DSS with the active connivance of Senator George Akume to forcibly gain entrance into the chambers of the Assembly to carry out illegality.”
At least two-thirds (20 legislators) are required to impeach Governor Ortom, but those behind the move must have one third (10 legislators) to form a quorum.
Ikyange, who presided over the sitting, later told reporters that ten lawmakers had endorsed the impeachment proceedings. The journalists were barred from the gallery to monitor the deliberations.
He added that they had passed articles of impeachment against Ortom and would serve him a notice within seven days. He accused Ortom of squandering N54bn of state funds - N22bn from security votes and N32bn from local government funds.
He said the alleged corruption by Ortom was responsible for the failure of the state government to pay salaries of civil servants regularly.
The eight lawmakers, who were allegedly supported by the police, purportedly have the backing of a former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume who had since parted ways with Governor Ortom.
Daily Trust reports that 22 members of the Benue Assembly, including those who defected to the PDP, had on Tuesday last week suspended Ikyange, seen as an ardent supporter of Akume and replaced him with Titus Uba (Kyaan Constituency). They also slammed a sixmonth suspension on the ousted speaker. But Ikyange insists that he remains the Speaker.
Factions trade suspension
The eight legislators who sat yesterday also suspended the 22 others who are all members of the PDP and loyal to Governor Ortom.
However the 22 PDP lawmakers who sat at the Old Banquet Hall when they were denied access to the assembly complex, dismissed the sitting by the APC lawmakers, saying what they did does not have a place in law.
House Majority Leader, Avine Agbom, who presided over the meeting, said Ikyange had been impeached and suspended for six months and could therefore not hold any legal sitting in the name of the assembly.
He also announced the suspension of all the eight lawmakers who attended the session where the impeachment notice against Governor Ortom was raised.
Earlier yesterday, some youths at about 5:00am occupied the assembly complex alleging plot that some members were making moves to impeach the governor.
The police reportedly dispersed the youths with tear gas canisters.
Court restrains Ikyange, others
A Benue State High Court has issued an order restraining Ikyange, James Okefe and Benjamin Adanyi from parading themselves in the capacities they previously operated.
The trio are also to appear in court to explain why an order for their committal to prison should not be made against them for disobeying the injunction earlier issued by the court presided over by the Onum.
Similarly, 22 members of the Assembly have initiated contempt proceedings against Terkimbi Ikyange, James Okefe and Benjamin Adanyi.
Also joined in the suit are the state Commissioner of Police, Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 4 Makurdi, Inspector General of Police, the Nigerian Police Force and the Director, Department of State Services, Makurdi state Chief Judge, Justice Adam
Saraki, Dogara say move illegal
Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, in a joint statement yesterday, described the move by eight members of the Benue House of Assembly to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom as illegal.
Saraki and Dogara said: “We have monitored closely the development in Benue State in which the impeached Speaker, Terkimbir Ikyange, led seven other members to serve impeachment notice on the state Governor, Samuel Ortom, while the 22 other members who constitute more than two-third majority have been prevented from having access to the chamber. We believe this is illegality and does not conform to parliamentary procedure on impeachment.
“We also note with surprise the role of the Police in this undemocratic event in which the minority is seeking to impeach a Governor against the position of the majority. We believe it is the sacred institution of the legislature that is being desecrated and rubbished negative developments.”
The statement added that the situation in Benue State has grave implication for Nigeria’s democracy and represents a throw-back to the period of dictatorship in our country.
“In a statement recently, the Presidency derisively referred to an era in the past where a minority number of legislators was used to impeach Governors who were unfriendly with the Federal Government. What we are seeing in Benue now is a return to that inglorious era.
“We believe this unlawful and unconstitutional move to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom by a minority should be condemned by all lovers of democracy, at home and abroad,” the statement said, even as it called on President Muhammadu Buhari to call the police to order and prevent a break-down of law and order.
“We also call on friends of Nigeria in the international community to lend their voice in condemning the perpetration of illegalities and actions that can subvert our democracy,” it said. in all these
PDP blames Buhari, Oshiomhole, Akume
The PDP has accused that President Buhari, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and Senator George Akume of being behind the move to impeach Governor Samuel Ortom.
Addressing newsmen yesterday in Abuja after an emergency meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC), the PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, described the move as “illegality,” arguing that eight out of 30 members can't impeach a serving governor.
"PDP also condemns the use of the EFCC and DSS to harass and intimidate officials of the Benue State government.
"We note the roles played by the factional chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government and Sen. George Akume in encouraging lawless acts and anarchy in Benue State," the PDP said.