Benue legislators suspend six council chairmen

Benue State House of Assembly has suspended six council chairmen and two vice chairmen for three months over alleged gross misconduct, misappropriation of funds and abuse of office.

The chairmen are Austin Okwoche (Oju), Mrs. Juliana Audu (Makurdi), Terdoo Kenti (Kwande) and his vice, Andrew Orvande, as well as Francis Ogwuche (Okpokwu).

Others are Mrs. Beckie Orpin (Gboko), Mrs. Comfort Echoda (Agatu) and her vice, Joseph Ngbede.

The assembly took the decision at yesterday’s plenary following a correspondence from Governor Samuel Ortom requesting the house to grant the approval for the suspension.

Councillors from the affected councils had written petitions against the chairmen and the vice chairmen.

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