Kogi Assembly speaker, officers impeached

• Varsity security operatives face sanctions over negligence of duty

The political uncertainty in Kogi State has taken a new dimension as 17 members yesterday impeached the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Momoh Jimoh Lawal

Other principal officers that were also removed included his deputy, Ali Akuh and the Minority Leader, Hassan Bello at their plenary held on the floor of the house on Thursday.

The members elected Osiyi Ojo representing Ogori/Magongo State Constituency as the new Speaker, John Abah from Ibaji State constituency, who is also the Chairman House Committee on Information and Orientation was elected as the new Deputy Speaker, while Linus Enenche was elected as the new Minority Leader.

Meanwhile, three security operatives of the Kogi State University are to pay for seven flat screen computer monitors stolen from the Information Technology Resources Centre (ITRC) in December 2014 to serve as deterrent to other staff of the university on the need for them to take their duties seriously.

This was contained in a memo addressed to the Bursar and signed by the Registrar, Dr. Abubakar Iduh.

It indicated that the decision followed the approval by Management of the recommendation of the Investigation Panel.

The theft happened, the Registrar’s memorandum said, due to “negligence of duty” by the three security operatives.

The Kogi lawmakers converged immediately after their house session at the Press Centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lokoja, where they informed newsmen that the three principal officers had been removed from office.

Abah, who spoke on behalf of the members, said the Speaker was impeached because he had failed to give adequate leadership to the house.
According to him they adjourned the house sitting till December 16, 2015. He said the motion for impeachment was moved by Henry Ukubile Ochijenu-Acharu of Idah constituency and seconded by Umar Iman of Kogi state constituency.