Why Benue Assembly suspended 6 council chairmen

Benue State House of Assembly on Monday January 21st, 2019 approved the suspension of six Chairmen and two Vice Chairmen of Local Government Councils in the State for three months over alleged gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds and abuse of Office.

The Chairmen are Austin Okwoche of Oju Local Government Council, Mrs Juliana Audu of Makurdi, Terdoo Kenti of Kwande and his Vice, Andrew Orvande as well as Francis Ogwuche of Okpokwu.

Others are Mrs Beckie Orpin of Gboko Local Government Council, Mrs Comfort Echoda of Agatu and her Vice, Joseph Ngbede.

The House of Assembly took the decision at a plenary following a correspondence from the State Governor, Samuel Ortom, requesting the House to grant the approval for the suspension in line with the Benue State Local Government Law 2007 as amended.

According to the correspondence read to members by the Speaker, Mr Titus Uba, the request for the suspension was based on the advice of the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Michael Gusa, that the action was necessary to enable investigation into the allegations against the affected Chairmen and Vice.

The correspondence was accompanied by petitions written separately by the Councillors of the affected six Local Government Councils against their Chairmen and the two Vice Chairmen.

(Credit: Radio Benue)