Benue State House of Assembly has recommended the immediate suspension of the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area of the state, Maxwell Ogiri, for six months over allegations of financial misconduct and abuse of office.
This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Terver Zamber.
The decision was reached on Friday, during a plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Hyacinth Dajoh, following the submission of a report by the House Committee on Local Government, Security, and Chieftaincy Affairs.
The report cited alleged diversion of public funds into a private account and the illegal closure of the local legislative chamber.
In line with the assembly’s decision, the House recommended that the deputy chairman be immediately sworn in to assume leadership of the council for the duration of the suspension.
Ogiri was accused not only of financial misappropriation but also of harassing councillors and disrupting legislative activities by unilaterally shutting down the council chamber.
