House seals offices of suspended Reps

Doris Uboh’s office at the National Assembly on Wednesday. Photo :NAN


our reporter

June 24, 2010



The offices of the 11 members of the House of Representatives who were, on Tuesday, suspended for publicising allegations of corruption against the Speaker, Dimeji Bankole and members of the leadership, have been sealed.

Those suspended who were all members of the Progressive group include, Dino Melaye, Solomon Awhinawhi, Austin Nwachukwu, Bitrus Kaze and Doris Uboh. Others are Ehiogie West-Idahosa, Independence Ogunewe, Abba Anas,

Gbenga Oduwaiye, Kayode Amusan and Gbenga Onigbogi.

Messrs Melaye, Awhinawhi, Nwachukwu, Kaze and Uboh were beaten up and bundled out of the chamber yesterday during the pandemonium that attended the day’s sitting.

They were suspended during the House plenary session following a motion sponsored by Chile Igbauwa (PDP, Benue) which noted that they did not avail themselves of the standing rules to resolve the corruption allegations they raised before going to the press and for their unruly behaviour on the floor.

A visit to their offices in the new wing of the assembly complex yesterday revealed that the offices have been sealed and the keys changed shortly after the indefinite suspension slammed on them.

The doors to the offices were marked “sealed” though it was not clear who ordered them closed.

Rumours of probe

It was gathered that the office of the Sergeant-At-Arms sealed the offices on the orders of the leadership. The Sergeant-at-arms, Emma Okere could not be reached for comments.

And when contacted, the chairman of the Rules and Business committee, Ita Enang told journalists that he was not aware of the development.

“I just came out of the chambers now and I have not been able to follow up anything,” Mr Enang said.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) visited the National Assembly over the allegations raised by the “progressive” members. But no official of either the commission or the assembly was willing to confirm this.