By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended the Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Area, Emmanuel Onuche, over alleged acts of gross misconduct said to have tarnished the image of the state.
The suspension was announced during plenary on Wednesday in Lokoja, where the Assembly directed Onuche to hand over the affairs of the council to his Vice Chairman, Victoria Okolo, pending the outcome of an investigation.
Lawmakers noted that an effective probe into the allegations against the embattled chairman would not be possible while he remained in office.
During the session, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, constituted a five-member investigative committee to look into the allegations. The committee is chaired by Hon. Bode Ogunmola, while other members include Hon. Ishaya Omotayo Adeleye (Ijumu), Hon. Asema Baba Haruna (Adavi), Hon. Anthony Ujah (Olamaboro), and Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijani (Lokoja I). Muhammed Bello was appointed as the clerk of the committee.
The committee has been given one month to submit its findings and recommendations to the House for further action.
Meanwhile, three lawmakers in the Kogi State House of Assembly have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during the same plenary session.
Those who announced their defection include Hon. Bode Ogunmola (formerly of the PDP, representing Ogori/Magongo), Hon. Idowu Ibikunle (formerly of the ADC, representing Yagba East), and Hon. Sunday Daku (formerly of the PDP, representing Bassa).
Their defection further consolidates the ruling APC’s majority status in the state legislature.
The House has adjourned sitting to allow the investigative committee to commence work on the allegations against the Ibaji Council Chairman.
