The Kogi State House of Assembly, on Thursday, suspended nine lawmakers over alleged acts of terrorism and electoral violence during the March 18 House of Assembly election in the state.
The suspended lawmakers are Muktar Bajeh (Majority leader -Okehi), Daniya Ranyi (Bassa), Suleiman Attajachi (Idah), Bello Hassan (Ajaokuta), and Edoko Moses-Ododo (Ibaji).
Others are Abubakar Tanko (Kogi/Koto), Atabor Cosmas-Llemona (Igalamela/Odolu) Kilani Olusola-Olumo (Ijumu), and Mohammed Lawi-Ahmed (Okene 1),
They were alleged to have breached the conduct of the March 18 House of Assembly elections in the state.
The suspension of the lawmakers was sequel to a letter received from Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, dated March 23, 2023.
Also, another letter dated March 22 was from the state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) demanding the suspension of seven local government chairmen for an alleged act of electoral violence.
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While Bello’s letter harped on the suspended lawmakers, the second letter written and signed by the state APC chairman, Abubakar Bello, was on the suspended council chairmen.
They were asked to be investigated by the House Ad-hoc Committee headed by the Deputy Speaker, Alfa Rabiu-Momoh.
The APC chairman asked for the suspension of seven local government chairmen of Bassa with his vice, Ogorimagogo with his Vice, Yagba West, Ibaji, Kabba/Bunu, Ajaokuta, and Adavi.
The third letter received by the House was a petition from nine out of 10 councillors of Lokoja LGA, asking for the investigation of the Council Chairman, Dansabe Muhammed, over alleged misappropriation of about N150 million revenue allocations received by the council.
On deliberations, the House also suspended the chairman and the leader of the Legislative Arm to give room for a smooth investigation of the matter raised by the councillors.
The Speaker of the House, Matthew Kolawale, while speaking on the suspended colleagues, described their involvement in “terrorism and electoral violence” as “very unfortunate” and “uncalled”.
Contributing to the debate on the allegations levelled against the lawmakers, the Deputy Speaker, from Ankpa 2 state constituency, supported the suspension of lawmakers over the allegations.
“I’m in strong support of their suspension simply because the state is bigger than any personal interest more so that lawmakers should not be found contravening the laws, which they themselves made,” Rabiu-Momoh said.
Also, the lawmaker representing Omala State Constituency, Collins Musa, aligned himself with the Deputy Speaker, saying issue that bothers on terrorism was too grave to sweep under the carpet and asked for a thorough investigation to get to the root of the matter.
Meanwhile, the House gave two weeks to a seven-man ad-hoc committee headed by the Deputy Speaker and Bayero Jiya as secretary within which to conduct and complete its findings and report back to it.
The House, therefore, adjourned its sitting to March 28, 2023.
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