ENUGU – The Enugu State House of Assembly has suspended Mr Johnbull Nwagu, representing Udi North Constituency for two months for making an unguarded utterance against the assembly.
The Speaker, Mr Eugene Odo, gave the ruling following an allegation that Nwagu had made an unguarded utterance against the assembly.
Odo also set up a three-man committee to investigate the issue and report its findings to the assembly within one week.
Introducing the motion for his suspension on Tuesday during plenary, the Leader of the assembly, Mr Sunday Ude-Okoye, alleged that Nwagu had, in an altercation with his colleague, Mr Iloabuchi Aniagu (PDP-Nkanu-West), threatened that the assembly would not receive its over-head cost subvention for three months.
According to the leader, Nwagu who is also the Chairman, Committee on Finance and Appropriation, had said that because of the assembly’s failure to approve the N11 billion loan being demanded by Gov. Sullivan Chime, its allocation would be withheld.
Seconding the motion, Mr Paul Ogbe (PDP-Enugu South Urban), called for Nwagu’s suspension for his failure to perform his functions as the assembly Chairman on Finance and Appropriation.
Supporting the motion, Mr Illoabuchi Aniagu, (PDP-Nkanu West), corroborated what the leader had said, adding that Nwagu had told him on Friday that for not passing the resolution on the said loan, the members would not receive the allowance for three months.
In his contribution ,Mr Edward Ubosi (PDP-Enugu East Urban) called for the removal of Nwagu as the chairman of the committee instead of outright suspension from legislative process.
Ubosi’s views were shared by Mr Chinedu Nwamba (PDP-Nsukka East), who opined that what Nwagu said was wrong, but appealed to the lawmakers to tamper justice with mercy for peace to reign.
The member representing Igboeze North 1, Chief Michael Onyeze, who also supported the suspension motion, siad that it would serve as a deterrent to others and for members to learn not to drag the image of the assembly to the mud.
“If he is suspended and he shows reasonable remorse, we will recall him. We are honourable members. This House has powers and it should be exercised on him,’’ he said.
In his contribution, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Chime Oji (PDP-Enugu North), said that the utterance amounted to making a mockery of the lawmakers.
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Oji stressed that nobody or group could be greater “this institution” but said that matter should have been an internal business during the executive session and not to be debated at plenary session.
In his defence, Nwagu said that Aniagu might have misunderstood or misinterpreted the communication between them as he had shown brotherly love to all the lawmakers. (NAN)
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