Kogi State House of Assembly has allegedly impeached the Speaker, Prince Matthew Kolawole over accusations of misconduct and money laundering running into millions of naira.
This was coming after earlier same day the speaker presided over a sitting where seventeen members of the Assembly also impeached Deputy Speaker, Hon. Ahmed Mohammed.
Mohammed was impeached while three other principal officers accused of gross misconduct and arbitrary use of office were suspended.
The impeachment and suspension took place on the floor of the House at an emergency sitting on Friday following the adoption of a motion by the 17 members, read by Hon. Enema Paul (APC-Dekina II).
Later the 19 lawmakers that impeached the speaker said his impeachment, took effect from Monday, June 13, 2022.
The speaker’s impeachment was undersigned by 19 out of 25 lawmakers.
According to them, Kolawole’s alleged corrupt antecedents had led to the non-payment of members’ constitutional entitlements, gross corruption and diversion of funds meant for the Assembly since 2019.
They also said the Speaker obtained a personal loan running into hundreds of millions, using the Kogi State House of Assembly account to the detriment of other members.
The aggrieved lawmakers alleged that Kolawole diminished the integrity of fellow elected members by serially recording meetings and confidential conversations of members which he used as a tool to blackmail members before Governor Yahaya Bello.
List Of Signatories
1. Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed -Deputy Speake
2. Hon. Bello Hassan Abdullahi – Majority Leade
3. Hon. Ndako Idris Muhammed-DML
4. Hon. Edoko Moses Ododo- DCW
5. Hon. Enema Paul
6. Hon. Ibrahim Usman
7. Hon. Prince Hilarion Collins Musa
8. Hon. Kilani Olusola Olumo
9. Hon. Umar Isah Tanimu
10. Hon. Daniya Ranyi
11. Hon. Ahande Oke Moses
12. Hon. Suleiman Attajachi Musa
13. Hon. Atabor Cosmas Ilemona
14. Hon. Ujah Alewo Anthony
15. Hon. Ahmed Dahiru
16. Hon. Aderonke Aro
17. Hon. (Alh) Musa Jimoh
18. Hon. Atule Egbunu
19. Hon. Mohammed Lawi Ahmed