Clement Nnachi, Abakaliki
Pandemonium occurred on Wednesday at the Committee Room of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly as lawmakers and the general public were shocked when the Chairman of Ohaukwu local Government Area of the state Hon. Clement Odah, reportedly slapped the Lawmaker representing Ohaukwu south Constituency in the House, Hon. Chinedum Onah.
It was gathered that the House Committee members were taking on Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDGs) in their budget defence when Hon. Odah invaded the Committee Room and accused Hon. Chinedum Onah of not protecting the interest of Management Committee member nominees from the Council who came for screening at the House.
The incident resulted to the suspension of the sitting of the Committee proceedings who then reported the matter to the plenary that was already in session at the Assembly Complex.
Moving the motion for the arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of Ohaukwu Council Mr. Clement Odah, the House leader Hon. Victor Chukwu urged the State Commissioner of Police CP Awoshola Awotinde to effect the arrest.
The plenary was presided over by the deputy Speaker Chief Odefa Obasi Odefa.
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Narrating his ordeals in an interview with newsmen, the victim Hon. Onah said that the incident was a big shock to him.
“We were taking some MDAs in the Committee Room when the Chairman barged into the Room and started shouting that this small boy (referring to me) stepped down my nominees as members of the Management Committees”
“Hon. Odah said that he came to the Assembly to tell me that I must clear them. Unfortunately, I did not step down anybody”
Hon. Onah further alleged that in the course of explaining to the Chairman of his innocence to the non-confirmation of the nominees, the next thing he heard was a dirty slap on my cheek by Hon. Clement Odah.
“I did not bother to retaliate, the law should take its course.” he reiterated.
Corroborating the incident, the deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly and the Lawmaker representing Ebonyi South East Constituency Hon. Benjamin Ezeomah described the action as despicable and condemnable.
He said that the Chairman over stepped his bounds by barging into the Assembly, and slapping a lawmaker.
The local Government Chairman of Ohaukwu barged into the Committee Room and slapped Hon. Chinedum Onah for no just cause.
Reacting to the incident, the Chairman of Ohaukwu local Government Area Hon. Clement Odah, denied ever slapping the Lawmaker.
According to him, he came to the Assembly to make clarification on some of the Management Committee nominees from Ohaukwu local Government whose confirmations were turned down during their screening and confirmation.
Meanwhile, the lawmakers have passed a resolution calling for the arrest and prosecution of the Chairman of Ohaukwu local Government Council Hon. Clement Odah for slapping a lawmaker inside the Assembly Complex.
