The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended its former Speaker, Aondona Dajoh, for three months over allegations of plotting to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The suspension came after a motion was raised on Tuesday by Terna Shimawua, representing Kyan State Constituency, and seconded by James Umoru of Apa State Constituency. Both lawmakers faulted Dajoh’s alleged moves against the governor and called for disciplinary action.
Shimawua, who was among lawmakers suspended last week by Dajoh before his resignation as Speaker, told the House that the former presiding officer acted in bad faith.
Ruling on the matter, the new Speaker, Alfred Berger, announced Dajoh’s suspension, reviewing it from the initial six months proposed to three months, without putting the decision to the usual voice vote.
In a surprising twist, the Assembly also confirmed the nomination of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as commissioner. Ornguga, a law lecturer at Benue State University, had been rejected last week under Dajoh’s leadership. Governor Alia, in a fresh letter to the Assembly, appealed for Ornguga’s clearance alongside James Dwem, arguing that neither had been convicted of any crime despite petitions filed against them.
The lawmakers, who had previously opposed their nominations, offered no resistance when Speaker Berger read the governor’s letter and confirmed them without the usual voting process.
The Assembly further lifted the suspension earlier imposed on three government officials: Grace Adagba, Chairman of the Benue State Universal Basic Education Board; Maxwell Ogiri, Otukpo Local Government Chairman; and Michael Uper, Secretary of the State Lottery Board.
