Benue Assembly moves to impeach deputy governor

The Benue State House of Assembly has begun moves geared towards impeaching the Deputy Governor of the state, Mr. Benson Abonu.

SUNDAY PUNCH learnt that the impeachment plot was predicated on the recent detention of the Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange, and other principal officers of the House based on a petition by a son of the deputy governor, Dr. Abonu Abonu.

In what they called “a betrayal and distrust” by the deputy governor, the lawmakers were said to have concluded plans to impeach the state’s number two citizen.

It was gathered that the aggrieved lawmakers felt Abonu must have given his authorisation before his son went ahead with the petition moves against them.

A reliable source, who spoke to SUNDAY PUNCHon condition of anonymity, said the lawmakers, who convened for an emergency meeting at the Benue Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, shortly after they were granted bail from detention, expressed their grievances and decided to begin impeachment moves before returning to Benue State.

The source added that 20 members had so far signed the notice of impeachment.

SUNDAY PUNCH gathered that Ikyange, after realising the requisite two-thirds majority, might direct the clerk to serve the deputy governor with the notice.

The source noted that 10 members had yet to append their signatures, adding that as soon as half of them signed, Abonu’s removal would be a settled matter.

The impeachment plot was said to have been sponsored by aggrieved members that were recently detained for alleged involvement in a N750m illegal car transaction.

The majority leader, Benjamin Adanyi, is believed to be the backer of the planned ouster.

The House is dominated by the ruling All Progressives Congress with 15 members, while the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party has 14 and Labour Party has one. Eighteen House members, including the Speaker, were allegedly involved in the N750m illegal car transaction; 10 were granted bail, while three remained in detention.

Efforts to reach the Chairman of the state House Committee on Information, Mr. Ben Ngutyor, proved abortive as calls made to his lines did not connect. However, a source at his house told our correspondent that he was resting.

Similarly, the Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, Mr. Ogaba Ede told SUNDAY PUNCHthat he did not have any knowledge about the alleged impeachment plans neither did his boss.

When contacted for his reaction, Adanyi also did not respond to calls from our correspondent.