Ebonyi Deputy Speaker impeached

ABAKALIKI – EBONYI State House of Assembly, Thursday,  impeached its Deputy Speaker, Hon. Valentine Okike representing Afikpo South West state constituency for alleged misconduct, insubordination and plotting to impeach the leadership of the House, gossiping, wearing of boxers to official functions and lack of respect for his colleagues.

Moving the impeachment motion, the member representing Ezza South state constituency, Hon. Chris Usulor during a plenary session of the house, accused the former Deputy Speaker of causing disaffection among members of the state House of Assembly.

He said: “Mr Speaker, the Deputy Speaker has been in the habit of moving from one office to another, reporting the leadership of the house, causing disaffection in the house, causing fragmentation in the house, promoting conflict and at the same time plotting to impeach the leadership of the house. Mr Speaker from all indications, the Deputy speaker has been in the forefront of promoting disaffection in this house and insubordination to the leadership of the house.

“Based on this and in accordance with Section 92 sub section 2c of the 1999 constitution which states inter alia, ‘the Speaker or the Deputy speaker shall vacate office if he is removed from office by a resolution of the House of Assembly by a vote of not less than two thirds of the members of the house’. Mr Speaker, I move a motion that the Deputy Speaker should be impeached for he has done a lot of destruction to the integrity of the house.

“And the way he dresses by wearing boxers to official function and in the house people are calling us a house without rules; if the Deputy
Speaker who is under oath to protect the integrity of the house and the constitution is at the forefront of breaching the two”

The House which also suspended the lawmaker who was also the Chairman House Committee on Rural Development, set up an eight member committee to look into the allegations against him and report back to the House within two weeks.





-- Vanguard