3rd February, 2017
The Ebonyi House of Assembly has passed a resolution, recommending the indefinite suspension of Mr Anselm Enigwe, Caretaker Chairman of Ebonyi Local Government Area.
The House in a special session on Friday in Abakaliki passed the resolution due to Enigwe’s refusal to submit account details of the council to the House Committee on Public Accounts.
Mr Onu Nwonye (PDP-Ohaoazara West) Chairman of the Committee submitted its report to the House.
“The chairman failed to submit the financial details after several invitations extended to him by the committee.
“He is also being investigated for lopsided distribution of the state governor’s Christmas and New Year largesse to stakeholders and people in his area.
“We, therefore, recommend that the governor suspends him indefinitely until he meets this requirement and to serve as a deterrent to other chairmen,” he said.
Chief Benjamin Ezeoma (PDP–Ebonyi) noted that no public officer should be allowed to toy with the integrity of the House which would affect the discharge of its functions.
“The chairman, unfortunately, hails from my constituency, but I will not support anyone who brings the House reputation into disrepute,” he said.
The members after reviewing the contents of the report overwhelmingly supported the recommendation for the chairman’s suspension.
Mr Francis Nwifuru, Speaker of the House, commended the committee for painstakingly discharging its functions and the members for their meaningful contributions during the review.
“The House is currently investigating the final details of caretaker chairmen due to the plethora of complaints from the people over their activities.
“The shunning of any invitation extended to any chairman implies an insult not only to the House but the state government.
“The activities of the Ebonyi LGA chairman portends a dangerous trend as he showed that he is capable of inflicting more harm if not checked,” he said.
Gov. David Umahi on Wednesday threatened to sack any caretaker chairman whom the House recommended for removal over failure to respond to summons.