Abia State House of Assembly Suspends Former Speaker, Majority Leader and 6 Others.
The Abia State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chukwudi Apugo has suspended its former Speaker, Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji, Majority Leader and 6 others over the illegal plenary it held yesterday.
In a statement by the new Speaker, Rt Hon. Chukwudi Apugo, he explained that it was illegal for the former Speaker to precide over the House of Assembly plenary having been removed from the Office ealier yesterday.
According to him, Rt. Hon. Orji siezed to be the Speaker of the house yesterday following his ealier impeachment by the majority of the house on account of gross misconduct and abuse of office.
He further explained that purported suspension and replacement of Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Uchendu as the Deputy Speaker and the purported suspension of some members of the House is glaringly illegal, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.
He gave the list of those suspended by the House to include:
- Rt. Hon. Chinedum Orji (Umuahia Central)
- Hon. Solomon Akpulonu (Obingwa East)
- Hon. Paul Taribo (Ukwa East).
- Hon. Mandela Obasi (Ohafia North)
- Hon. Ginger Onwusibe (Isiala Ngwa North)
- Hon. Abraham Oba (Aba Central).
- Hon. Emeka Okoroafor (Isiukwuato).
- Hon. Jerry Uzosike (Umuahia South).
The House in its plenary, elected Hon. Aaron Uzodike, member representing Aba North State Constituency as the new majority Leader.
The Speaker reaffirms the dissolution of all House standing Committees. He however reconstituted the following Committees, namely: - Appropriation,
- Public Accounts
- Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs and
4 Adhoc Committee on the review of the activities of the House.
The Appropriation and Public Account committees are to be chaired by Rt. Hon. Kennedy Njoku and Hon. Obinna Ichita respectively. While Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs and Adhoc Committee on review on House activities are to be chaired by Hon. Chijioke Chukwu and Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu respectively.
Rt. Hon. Chukwudi Apugo also warned that the House would take legal actions against the suspended members if they go on to hold illegal plenaries.
He also advised Security Agencies in the State to stand firm in its defence of the Nigerian Constitution and not to patronize those violating the law.
