Former Edo Speaker gets reprieve as lawmakers lift his suspension

Apparently to pacify the recently ousted Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly, Justin Okonoboh, the state’s lawmakers have lifted his suspension and that of the former Majority Leader, Foly Ogedengbe.

19 members of the Assembly had last week in what some analysts described as show of shame impeached and suspended Hon Okonoboh, his deputy, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie and the majority leader, Foly Ogedengbe over alleged gross misconduct.

Also suspended was a member representing Esan North-East II, Mr. Magnus-Desmond Ezehi.

But in what appears as a move to calm the tension generated by the action of the lawmakers, an ad-hoc committee was quickly set up to look into the matter.

Following the recommendation of the committee chaired by the new Deputy Speaker Victor Edoro, the House during its plenary on Monday lifted the suspension placed on the former Speaker and the ex-majority leader.

The lawmakers however said that the suspension of the former deputy speaker, Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie and Ezehi, will remain until they showed cooperation with the committee.

Explaining why the committee lifted the suspension of the former Speaker, the chairman of the committee explained that Okonoboh and the majority leader Ogedengbe were “seemingly cooperative” with investigations.

Read also: As feud lingers, APC sets up committee to reconcile Bello, Melaye

On the other hand, he said that the committee failed to lift the suspension of Ativie and Igbas because they allegedly showed no respect for the committee and the Assembly as at the time of submitting its preliminary report.

Edoro further told the lawmakers that some of the property of the Assembly had been returned by the two suspended members.

“Consequently, the suspension of the members, Okonoboh and Ogedengbe, is hereby lifted, while Ativie and Igbas remain suspended,” the new Speaker Kabiru Adjoto said soon after the resolution was passed.

 

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