Kogi State House of Assembly has suspended nine of its members on allegation bordering on terrorism, The Guardian reports.
This was after the House Speaker, Mathew Kolawole, read a letter from the state governor, Yahaya Bello, alleging that the lawmakers engaged in terrorism acts based on security report.
The Deputy Speaker, Alfa Rabiu Momoh, representing Ankpa II State Constituency, while contributing to the debate on the allegation levelled against them, supported the suspension of the lawmakers, saying that the state is bigger than any personal interest and that lawmakers should not be found contravening the law.
Also, Collins Musa, representing Omala State Constituency, aligned himself with the Deputy Speaker, saying that issue that borders on terrorism is too great to be swept under the carpet.
The House, therefore, placed the nine lawmakers on suspension until investigation is concluded.
The suspended lawmakers are Olusola Kilani (Ijumu), Bello Hassan (Ajaokuta), Muhammed Lawi Ahmed (Okene I), Moses Akande (Ogori/Magongo), Aderonke Aro (Yagba West), Daniyan Ranyi (Bassa), Atule Igbunu (Ibaji), Atachaji Musa (Idah) and Muktar Bajeh (Okehi).
Similarly, the House has placed on suspension seven council chairmen on allegation of electoral violence.
The chairmen are that of Bassa with his vice, Ogori/Magongo and his vice; Yagba West; Kabba/Bunu and his vice; Adavi and Ajaokuta local councils.
MEANWHILE, a seven-man ad-hoc committee, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Momoh, was set up by the House to investigate those on suspension.
The committee’s Secretary is Bayero Jiya.In an another development, the House also placed Chairman of Lokoja Local Council, Dansabe Muhammed, on suspension over allegation of misappropriation of funds, amounting to N150 million.
The councillors and the vice chairman had written a letter accusing the council boss of reckless financial spending and misappropriation of funds without recourse to legal order.
