Nasarawa: Assembly suspends 6 members indefinitely

The fight that took place at the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on yesterday, took a diverse turn on today as the House suspended six of its members indefinitely.

They were accused of taking part in wrongdoing during the proceedings of the house on yesterday.

The suspension was broadcasted by the Deputy Speaker of the assembly, Mr Godiya Akwashiki (PDP-Nassarawa Eggon West), who presided over plenary.

It would be recalled that the House of Assembly was thrown into a free for all fight, as lawmakers exchanged blows and broke chairs over the swearing in of sole administrators for local government areas of the state. The swearing in was performed by Governor Tanko Al-Makura barely two hours before the fight broke out.

Announcing the suspension of the lawmakers, Akwashiki said: “13 lawmakers and me have voted in support of a motion moved for the suspension of the six lawmakers who misbehaved during our sitting on Monday.

“They are Kassim Mohammed-Kassim (APC-Akwanga South), Murtala Sodangi(APC-Nasarawa Central), Mohammed Okpoku (APC-Udege/ Loko, Musa Ali(APC-Keffi East), Makpa Malla (APC-Wamba) and Abubakar Kana (APC-Kokona West).

“These lawmakers are suspended from the house indefinitely without salary and allowances over their misconduct,” he announced.

The motion for their suspension was moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Mr Tanko Tunga (APC-Awe North).
He called for the suspension of the six lawmakers for misconduct and for corruption allegations they levelled against members of the house.

According to Tunga, the suspended lawmakers had alleged that the executive arm of government bribed some members of the house to support the appointment of sole administrators for 11 local government areas by Gov. Al-Makura.

 “The action of the six members had caused a confusion which resulted into chaos among members and it is in view of this that I want to move a motion for their suspension so as to serve as deterrent to other lawmakers,’’ he said.

The motion was seconded by the Minority Leader of the House, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim-Alkali (PDP-Lafia North).

One of the suspended lawmakers however described their suspension as “a rape of democracy’’.

“This is ridiculous; they have no basis of doing that because it is an assault on the rule of law.

“How will they suspend us because we said that the right thing must be done and the rule of law must be followed in regard to the appointment of 11 sole administrators?

“We will seek redress; we are law-abiding lawmakers; we know the right thing to be done and we have already briefed our lawyers on the next line of action,’’ he said.