The Edo House of Assembly, on Monday, rejected the purported resignation of former Speaker, Blessing Agbebaku
The House, instead, converted the resignation to impeachment during plenary session in Benin
Moving the motion for Agbebaku’s impeachment, the Majority Leader, Sunday Ojezele, said the alleged resignation letter was not received by the House
Ojezele, who represents Esan South-East, said that the verbal resignation process “was unknown to parliamentary practices and did not conform with parliamentary procedures”
He urged members to support the impeachment of the ex-speaker
A majority of the members supported the motion for Agbebaku’s impeachment
Ojezele subsequently presented the impeachment letter to the Clerk, Mr Yahaya Omogbai, for onward transmission to the Speaker, Yekini Idiaye
In a remark, the speaker condemned what he described as Agbebaku’s “worrisome and unwarranted attitude” and reiterated that he remained suspended
Idiaye directed Agbebaku to return all the House property in his possession on or before Friday
He warned that law enforcement agencies would be engaged, should he fail to comply
The House also passed two key bills that were designed to strengthen financial autonomy and institutional independence in the state
The first pass was a bill for a Law to Amend the Edo State House of Assembly Fund Management Law 2023
The second was a bill for a Law to Amend the Edo State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law 2023, after resolving into a committee of the whole
Ojezele reiterated that strengthening institutions and government agencies would help curb corruption and fraud while safeguarding institutional autonomy
The Speaker directed the clerk to transmit clean copies of both bills to Gov Monday Okpebholo for assent.
The House also confirmed Mr Ambrose Ayewoh-Oyakhilomen, who hails from Esan North-East, as the Deputy Chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education BoardThe House, thereafter, adjourned its sitting until Wednesday