Speaker of Bayelsa House of Assembly, Mr. Konbowei Benson, Tuesday, said some aggrieved politicians were behind the plot to oust him from office.
Benson made the revelation during a media chat with newsmen at the Assembly complex in Yenagoa.
He said the aggrieved politicians were inciting some House members to impeach him over allegation that the House embezzled the N78 million approved by Governor Seriake Dickson for House members to attend the Commonwealth Parliamentary session held last August in South Africa.
He said: “Usually, there is no smoke without fire. I am aware that some House members are being incited.
“I am also aware that presently signatures are being collected to remove me. The Speakership seat is no doubt an enviable position.”
The Speaker, who admitted that though the members could not attend the session following their late arrival in South Africa, explained that there was no intention by the members to embezzle the money.
Konbowei, who maintained his innocence over the alleged embezzlement, explained that Governor Dickson had approved the money for the lawmakers because of the importance of the parliamentary session to the lawmakers.
He said: “The governor saw the importance of the programme to the development of this House that was why he graciously approved that sum of money for us to attend the programme.
“Quite clearly, nobody is disputing the fact that we went late for the programme. It is of note that something necessitated our late arrival. It was not our intention to go late for the programme or to embezzle any money.”
He fingered five ex-local government chairmen in the state, who were investigated and removed by the leadership of the House after they were found guilty of financial misconduct, for inciting his colleagues.
The Speaker alleged that the five ex-chairmen had written him sometime last year, asking him to explain what happened to the N78 million approved for the House members for the trip to South Africa, which they never did.
He disclosed that the ex-chairmen, who were bitter with him over their removal, had told him in their letter that they were empowered by the FoI Act to demand explanation from him over the N78 million approval. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Stop beating around the bush. If u no chop d money, wat did u do wit it? Did u refund d money? Cos u only attended d meeting for a few hours and yet u received millions for a week. Instead of sorting these questions out u r whining like a disgruntled girlfriend that ur seat is an enviable one, useless nigerian leaders!
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