Lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly have rejected the resignation of former Speaker Blessing Agbebaku and officially impeached him.
Agbebaku, who represents the Owan West Constituency, had last Monday resigned from his position as Speaker, citing personal reasons for his departure.
Following the development, the lawmakers elected Yekini Idaiye, representing the Akoko-Edo I Constituency, as the new Speaker of the House.
Agbebaku was subsequently suspended indefinitely after his resignation, and an investigative panel was established to probe his tenure in office.
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However, upon the resumption of plenary yesterday, the lawmakers voted to convert the resignation into an impeachment. Speaker Idaiye stated that the formal impeachment notice was signed by 17 lawmakers.
Idaiye explained that the impeachment was formally presented by the Majority Leader, Sunday Ojiezele, during last Monday’s plenary session.
He noted that Agbebaku’s resignation was reversed to an impeachment because his notice of resignation was not officially presented and properly documented in the days following his suspension.
Speaker Idaiye maintained that the former Speaker was impeached by the Assembly and did not resign.
A motion for the formal impeachment of Agbebaku was moved and subsequently seconded by Ahmed Waziri, the lawmaker representing the Etsako Central Constituency.
The Speaker has directed Agbebaku to return all government property currently in his possession, warning that security agencies will be engaged if the former Speaker fails to comply with the directive or respond to the House.
