Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has ordered that the 23 Local Government Council chairmen remain suspended until the investigation into their actions is completed.
He said this during a press conference in Makurdi, the state capital, on Saturday, in response to the council chairmen’s claims.
During the briefing, the council chairmen vowed not to resign in defiance of the state government’s directive.
Alia responded through his spokesman, Tersoo Kula, saying they were suspended for investigation purposes rather than fired.
The governor based his decision on the advice of the state legislature.
He said;
Recall that the Benue State House of Assembly had during plenary session on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, recommended for the suspension of all the 23 local government chairmen as well as their various legislative arms over corruption allegations.
The recommendations were upheld by the state executive and the chairmen directed to hand over their offices to the various DGSAs of their councils.
Alia expressed surprise at how the council chairmen chose to respond.
He denied knowledge of any court judgment, saying that even if there was one, it was speculative, given that no cause of action had arisen at the time the chairmen were discussing a court order or judgement.
He said;
So, even if there existed a court order not to sack council chairmen, at least there is none barring anyone from investigating them.
But are they really insulated from appropriate sanctions by the extant constitutional provisions? They should come to equity with clean hands. Perhaps, they may have been misled into assuming that they are entitled to political immunity as ‘elected’ council chairmen.
Alia therefore urged the council chairmen to be patient, as they will get the opportunity to defend themselves before the House of Assembly committee.
He stated that those who did not soil their hands would be reinstated but insisted that they remain suspended from office, pending the outcome of the investigation.