Lawal remains impeached, says Kogi Assembly factional Speaker

Mr Godwin Osiyi (PDP-Ogori-Magongo)
factional Speaker of Kogi House of
Assembly, on Monday reaffirmed the
position of 17 members that the
embattled speaker, Alhaji Momoh-Jimoh
Lawal remains impeached.
Addressing newsmen in Lokoja, Osiyi
said that the impeachment, carried out
on Dec. 10 during plenary, through the
resolution of the 17-member-signatories
still stood.
He said that contrary to insinuations
from different quarters, the
impeachment of Lawal (PDP-Okene II)
was not influenced by anyone.
According to him, the impeachment is
premised on six grounds arising from
general feeling of discontentment among
members.
“This includes gross incompetence and
lack of capacity and confidence to
preside over the proceedings of the 6th
Assembly.
Lawal’s sins, Osiji added, also include
insensitivity to members’ interest and
plight and misrepresentation between
the Assembly and the Executive for his
personal interests and aggrandizement.
Others, he said, were mismanagement of
Assembly funds and other valuable
resources and betrayal of trust members
reposed on him.
He also listed Lawal’s offence to include
high-handedness in the administration
of the Assembly “as he operates like a
sole administrator.”
In his defence, Lawal said that though he
was not opposed to the impeachment, it
ought to have followed due process.
He declared that the manner in which it
was conducted contravened the House
rules and procedures for impeachment.
Lawal alleged that legislators plotting his
removal forged the signature of Umar
Ahmed Imam (APC) the member
representing Lokoja 1 constituency, as
one of the 17 members that signed the
impeachment notice.
Meanwhile, Gov. Idris Wada will on
Tuesday, Dec.29 present the 2016 Budget
to the state Assembly.