By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State House of Assembly on Tuesday passed a resolution urging Governor Hyacinth Alia to suspend the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Grace Adagba, for six months over allegations of incompetence and obstruction of legislative oversight.
The lawmakers also directed the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Denen Aondoakaa, to withhold further release of funds to the board pending the outcome of the resolution for suspension.
Leading the motion during plenary, Hon. Bemdoo Ipusu told the House that Dr. Adagba had refused to appear before an ad-hoc committee constituted by the Assembly to investigate alleged irregularities in the operations of SUBEB. He said the chairman wrote to the House, questioning its authority to probe contracts awarded by the board, an action he described as a clear attempt to undermine the legislature’s constitutional mandate.
Members of the Assembly during the debate expressed displeasure over Dr. Adagba’s conduct and called for her immediate suspension, pointing out gross disregard for the authority of the House.
National Record reports that Dr Adagba may have no cause to panic as Governor Alia had last year defied a resolution of the house to suspend her following alleged lack of transparency in the recruitment of teachers by her agency.
While the Assembly’s decision was rebuffed, it went ahead to halt the recruitment process but later soft pedalled and directed Adagba to continue with the recruitment, claiming to have been satisfied with her explanations.
5 Members Suspended
Meanwhile, the Assembly again suspended five of its members for three sittings over their alleged role in tampering with the report on an investigation into the activities of the Chairman of Otukpo LGA, Hon. Maxwell Ogiri.
Those suspended include Hon. Terna Shimawua, Hon. Mathew Damkor, Hon. Cephas Dyako, Hon. Moses Egbodo, and Hon. Isaac Echekliye. All five lawmakers are members of the House Committee on Local Government, Security, and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The committee, chaired by Hon. Shimawua, was earlier mandated to investigate alleged misappropriation of funds and abuse of office by Hon. Ogiri. However, during the presentation of the report, the committee was said to have deviated from its original findings, prompting concerns among members.
Dissatisfied with the content of the report, the House resolved to set up a new five-member ad-hoc committee led by Hon. Ipusu to conduct a more thorough investigation and present an accurate account.
The Assembly later resolved to suspend the committee members for attempting to conceal evidence related to financial mismanagement, abuse of office, and the closure of the legislative chamber by the Otukpo council chairman, an act believed to have been aimed at shielding him from legislative sanctions.
