Benue Assembly orders indefinite suspension of Sports Marketing Board head

The Benue State House of Assembly has called for the indefinite suspension of Mr. Michael Upev, Executive Secretary of the Benue State Sports Marketing and Lottery Board, following allegations of corruption, misconduct, and abuse of office.

The resolution came during a plenary session led by the Speaker, Rt Hon. Alfred Emberga.

It followed findings from the House Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by Hon. Dr. Mathew Damkor, after an oversight inspection of the board.

The committee discovered that Mr. Upev also acts as a consultant to the board through his company, Upper Premier Service Limited.

Reports indicate he set up a payment platform accessible only to him and linked his company’s accounts as the primary recipients, among other irregular practices.

The Assembly unanimously recommended his indefinite suspension to allow the state government to restructure the board for improved efficiency.

In the same plenary session, the Benue State Agency for International Cooperation and Development Bill was read for the third time and formally passed into law.

This followed the report of the House Standing Committee on Sustainable Development Goals and Donor Agencies, chaired by Hon. Douglas Akya, representing Makurdi South State Constituency.

Additionally, a bill on diabetes care and free treatment under the Ministry of Health was presented for its first reading by Hon. Manger Manger, representing Tarka State Constituency, according to a statement from the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Michael Zape.