Recall: Benue lawmaker refuses to apologise as referendum holds Saturday

The member representing Katsina-Ala West constituency in Benue State House of Assembly, Mrs. Hembadoon Amena, has said she would not apologise for the charges listed to recall her from the Assembly saying they are “false.”

INEC has slated Saturday July to conduct a referendum on whether to her recall from the Assembly.

Former Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly, Simon Lalong, had in 2005 survived a referendum to recall him from the Plateau Assembly ostensibly based on his alleged support to the then embattled governor of the state, Joshua Dariye.

Amena had been entangled in a protracted battle with members of her constituency since last year over accusation of failing to brief the constituents since her re-election to the Assembly and alleged sponsoring of land disputes and thuggery among others.

But, the lawmaker yesterday told Daily Trust that what the people are saying about her were false and that those asking her to apologise have no single evidence to prove her guilt.

“What they are saying are considered to be false allegation. I can’t apologise for false allegation against me. Already, investigation is going on,” she said.

It was learnt that the elders and major stakeholders of the embattled legislator’s constituency met at Katsina-Ala town a few days ago over the matter for which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be taking a referendum votes this Saturday.

Some of her Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s top notchers in the area told newsmen that they could pardon the recall process if only she would apologise to them.