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BREAKING: Violence Erupts in Edo as Councillors Impeach Two Council Chairmen
- Two Edo council chairmen impeached amid violence.
- Gunmen, allegedly police, injure bystanders in Uhunmwonde.
- Owan East chairman decries illegal impeachment.
The crisis in Edo State local government areas deepened on Tuesday with reports of the impeachment of two council chairmen in Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon local government areas.
In contrast, the chairman of Owan East, Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadiri, has described his impeachment and that of his Vice, Hon. Clement Ojebuovbo, as unconstitutional and illegal.
In Uhunmwonde, several individuals were injured when gunmen, allegedly police officers from the government house, attacked bystanders.
In Orhionmwon, councillors impeached the Leader of the House, Hon. Daniel Osariemen, and replaced him with Hon. Chuks Isan after discovering that Osariemen was mobilizing to impeach the chairman, Hon. Newman Ugiagbe, and his Vice, Midwest Ogbebor.
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EKO HOT BLOG reports that Osariemen, who was suspended, allegedly led a group to seize the local government secretariat in Abudu and assumed the role of Acting Chairman. However, Ugiagbe, through his press secretary Roy Osariemen, declared this action illegal, asserting that Ugiagbe remains the chairman.
In a press briefing on Thursday in Benin City, Okodo-Kadiri condemned his purported impeachment, citing multiple irregularities that violated the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000 (amended in 2002). He argued that the councillors failed to form the required seven-member investigative panel and denied him the chance to defend himself.
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Furthermore, Okodo pointed out that the mace used in the impeachment was not the official Owan East Local Government Council mace, rendering the process invalid. He dismissed the governor’s allegations that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million meant for salaries, claiming the actual salary expenditures far exceeded ₦50 million in many councils, and salaries were paid up to November.
Okodo also questioned the involvement of two suspended councillors in the impeachment process, deeming their participation illegal as their reinstatement had not followed due process. He vowed to challenge the impeachment in court, expressing confidence that the judiciary would overturn what he described as an illegal and politically motivated move.
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