The Benue State House of Assembly has imposed a three-month suspension on former Speaker Aondona Dajoh, citing his alleged involvement in an attempt to impeach Governor Hyacinth Alia.
The suspension followed a motion presented on Tuesday by Terna Shimawua, the lawmaker for Kyan State Constituency, and seconded by James Umoru from Apa State Constituency. Notably, Shimawua was among those suspended last Friday by Dajoh prior to the latter’s resignation as Speaker.
In a departure from standard procedure, current Speaker Alfred Berger reduced Dajoh’s suspension period from six to three months without conducting the customary vote on the issue.
Adding a twist to the political developments, the Assembly reversed a previous decision and confirmed the appointment of Timothy Yangien Ornguga as commissioner on Tuesday. Ornguga, a law lecturer at Benue State University, had his nomination rejected last week by Dajoh. However, Speaker Berger, while reading a letter from Governor Alia, screened five other nominees, including Ornguga.
Berger noted that despite petitions filed against Ornguga and another nominee, James Dwem, the governor maintained that neither had been convicted of any crime and therefore called for their clearance.
Surprisingly, lawmakers who had initially opposed the confirmation of these nominees did not object during the confirmation process, which was conducted without the usual voice vote.
In another significant move, the House lifted suspensions on three political office holders previously suspended by the governor. These included 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.
