The Benue State House of Assembly, on Friday, suspended its impeached Speaker, Honourable Terkibir Ikyange, for six months for alleged insubordination
However, before the suspension was carried out, the police had prevented the lawmakers from holding an emergency plenary session at the assembly complex.
The lawmakers, who were said to be loyalists of the new speaker, Honourable Titus Abua, were turned away from the complex, a development which caused them to resort to the use of the old Banquet Hall of the Government House, Makurdi, for the plenary session.
During the session, which was attended by 19 members, the lawmakers announced the suspension of Honourable Ikyange.
The members directed the state Commissioner of Police to explain the reason policemen besieged the assembly complex.
They also ordered the police boss to remove the police team that was recently deployed in the assembly complex.
The Majority Leader of the assembly, Aviene Agbum, during the session, raised separate motions bordering on what transpired at the assembly complex.
The Deputy Speaker of the house, Honourable Egli Ahubi, who seconded the motion, decried what he called molestation on people at assembly complex.
Other members who supported the motion were Paul Biam (Ukum Constituency) and Sule Audu from Agatu State Constituency.
They described the attitude of the former Speaker, whom they accused of mounting the gate to the assembly complex and driving members away, as an act of insubordination.
The lawmakers also fumed over the invasion of the assembly complex by “unauthorised” policemen.
The Speaker, who ruled on the motion, directed that a letter bearing the resolution of the assembly be sent to his predecessor and the state Commissioner of Police.
Meanwhile, the only member of Labour Party in the assembly, Tor Aye representing Katsina Alla Constituency, presented a letter informing the members of his defection to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
According to the letter, which was read on the floor of the House, the lawmaker said he was “sacked” by his now former party.
