Ede Ogaba Ede,
Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has suspended the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and Public Order, Barr. Benue Mnyim for joining the state in the suit challenging the constitutionality of the law establishing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) without his authorization.
The Governor announced the indefinite suspension on Wednesday at the end of the Benue State Executive Council meeting at Government House, Makurdi.
He stated that the suspension was necessitated by Barr. Mnyim’s ultra vires decision to join the state in a suit challenging the legality of anti-graft agencies, namely the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Tersor Kula quotes Governor Alia as saying that “no appointee is permitted to act unilaterally. No matter how pressing or urgent the issue is, one must resort to due consultations with me or appropriately brief me and seek my permission before acting, especially in a sensitive matter such as this.
“My administration is holding accountable those who embezzled money and drained our state dry. The EFCC and ICPC are assisting us in this effort.
“How can I now turn around and begin to challenge these watchdogs? I gave no permission for him to enter an appearance for the state. Because he acted on his own”.
This development is a further setback to the efforts by the state governments to challenge the legality of the anti-corruption agencies. Earlier, Anambra, Adamawa, and Ebonyi states had, in separate applications withdrawn their participation in the suit.