Suspended members of Imo State House of Assembly, may be up facing any hurdle as they are accusing the leadership of the House of suspending their pay.
House Spokesman, Hon. Johnson Duru, was quoted by an Owerri based newspaper, to have said that the allegations were false, because the salaries of suspended members were up to date. He reportedly said that the leadership of the House does not have the power to stop their salaries.
According to him, what the suspended members are being owed are allowances which they are not entitled to, for as long as they are on suspension
It was alleged that the House leadership led by the Speaker, Paul Emeziem on the alleged promptings of the executive to bring the suspended lawmakers to their knees, directed that their salaries be withheld till further notice.
One of the suspended lawmakers was reported to have said “there was no justification whatsoever for their controversial suspension in the first place, what more for withholding their salaries”
Another lawmaker said “all these arm-twisting antics, harassment, and intimidation are aimed at castrating, weakening and pocketing the Imo House of Assembly to enable the executive push all kinds of bills without inputs from lawmakers.
Another lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity dismissed the allegations, on the grounds that they are baseless and unfounded.
The Speaker, Emeziem had told Journalists in Owerri, few days after the suspension of the lawmakers, that the action taken by the leadership of the House followed Due Process
The Imo State House of Assembly had suspended six members namely Hon Uche Ogbuagu, (Ikeduru), Hon.Phillip Ejiogu (Owerri North), Hon Kennedy Ibe (Obowo), Hon Onyemeachi Njoku (Ihitte Uboma), Hon Anyadike Nwosu (Ezinihitte Mbaise) and Hon Dominic Ezerioha,