Edo Assembly Changes Former Speaker’s Resignation to Impeachment

The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday rejected the resignation of former Speaker Blessing Agbebaku.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the House converted the resignation into an impeachment during a meeting in Benin.

The Majority Leader, Sunday Ojezele, moved the motion for Agbebaku’s impeachment. He said the House did not receive the alleged resignation letter.

Ojezele, who represents Esan South-East State Constituency, stated that the verbal resignation process “was unknown to parliamentary practices and did not conform to parliamentary procedures.” He urged members to support the impeachment of the ex-speaker, and most members agreed with the motion.

Ojezele then presented the impeachment letter to the Clerk, Yahaya Omogbai, for transmission to the Speaker, Yekini Idiaye.

In his remarks, the speaker condemned Agbebaku’s “worrisome and unwarranted attitude” and said he remained suspended. Idiaye ordered Mr Agbebaku to return all House property in his possession by Friday. He warned that law enforcement would be involved if Agbebaku failed to comply.

New Bills Passed

The House also passed two important bills aimed at improving the state’s financial independence and institutional freedom. The first bill was titled “A Law to Amend the Edo State House of Assembly Fund Management Law 2023.” The second bill was for “A Law to Amend the Edo State Judiciary Financial Autonomy Law 2023,” introduced after the House became a committee of the whole.

Ojezele emphasized that strengthening institutions and government agencies would help reduce corruption and fraud while protecting institutional independence.

The speaker directed the clerk to send clean copies of both bills to Governor Monday Okpebholo for approval.

The House confirmed Ambrose Ayewoh-Oyakhilomen from Esan North-East as the deputy chairman of the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board.

The House then adjourned its sitting until Wednesday.