Benue Assembly Suspends Five Lawmakers

The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended five of its members for allegedly tampering with a report involving the Chairman of Otukpo Local Government, Maxwell Ogiri.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Terver Zamber, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker, said the lawmakers were suspended for three sittings.

According to him, the suspension was due to their role in altering the findings of a report that investigated allegations against the LG chairman.

Those suspended include Hon. Shimawua Terna, Hon. Mathew Damkor, Hon. Cephas Dyako, Hon. Moses Egbodo, and Hon. Isaac Echekliye, all of whom served on the House Committee on Local Government, Security, and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Zamber explained that the committee members presented a report that did not reflect the actual findings during a session in the Assembly.

Unsatisfied with the version presented, the House formed a new five-member ad-hoc committee, led by Hon. Ipusu, to carry out a fresh investigation into the matter.

The Assembly said the suspension was necessary after it found that the original committee tried to conceal the truth about issues such as mismanagement of funds, abuse of office, and the alleged illegal shutdown of the Legislative Chamber by the Otukpo council chairman.

The statement reads, “BENUE ASSEMBLY SUSPENDS FIVE MEMBERS

Five members of the Benue State House of Assembly were today suspended for three sittings for tempering with the report on the activities of the Chairman, Otukpo Local Government Area Hon. Maxwell Ogiri.

The members are, Hon. Shimawua Terna, Hon. Mathew Damkor, Hon. Cephas Dyako, Hon. Moses Egbodo and Hon. Isaac Echekliye, they are all members of the House Standing committee on Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs.

Recall that, the Chairman of the Local Government, Security and Chieftaincy Affairs Hon. Terna Shimawua, alongside the members of the committee were mandated by the house to investigate alleged misappropriation of local government funds and abuse of office by the chairman Otukpo Local Government Hon. Maxwell Ogiri.

During the presentation of the report on the floor of the house, the chairman and members of the committee deviated from the real findings.

The House, dissatisfied with the report, constituted a five -member ad-hoc committee headed by Hon. Ipusu to investigate further and uncover the actual situation.

Accordingly, the house suspended the members of the entire committee for three sittings for covering the truth on the misappropriation, abuse of office and closure of the Legislative Chamber by the Otukpo Local Government Chairman to protect him from punishment.

Terver Zamber
Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker
Benue State House of Assembly
August 5, 2025.

KanyiDaily recalls that Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan was denied entry at the National Assembly despite a court ruling that called for her suspension to be lifted.