Ebonyi Assembly slams fresh 6 months suspension on female Lawmaker

Ebonyi state House of Assembly on Tuesday slammed a fresh six
months suspension of the member Representing Afikpo North East
constituency in the Assembly, Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi.

The decision followed the submission of the report of the ad hoc
Committee that investigated the allegations of gross misconduct and
possing as a public photographer.

The House had earlier slammed two weeks suspension on her
following the allegations levelled against her and setup a
committee to investigate the allegations against her and make
recommendations to the Assembly.

She had appeared before the House committee last week where she
admitted wrongdoings and appealed for forgiveness.

The Chairman of the Committee and the Member Representing Ikwo
South Constituency Hon Chike Oguji while presenting the Committee’s
report said Nwachi ran an illegal lottery scheme through her
Facebook group known as Igboist which further degraded the image of
the House.

He, however, noted that Mrs Nwachi comported herself with
decorum throughout the sittings of the committee when she was
invited for interrogation.

“In all the sittings of the committee, Hon. Mrs Maria Ude Nwachi
was invited and she honoured the committee’s invitation and
conducted herself with decorum. She admitted to have displayed some
ethical attitudes and conducts before the committee.

“Hon. Mrs. Maria Ude Nwachi as part of our observations, seems
to regret her act of misconduct and other unethical behaviours that
degrades the reputation and integrity of this House.

“Hon. Mrs. Maria Ude Nwachi runs an illegal lottery scheme
called Igboist thereby creating an environment with which she
engages in
fraudulent acts. Although the forum(Igboist) is not political and
unintended to defraud people, the illegality and criminal nature of
the scheme

destroyed the public confidence in the parliament, thus making
the public to generally accuse the House of corruption,
inefficiency and incompetence.
“She also runs an image promotion with her face book account which
she displays excellent performance of our dear Governor, His
Excellency Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi.

“In two sittings of the House, Mrs. Maria Ude Nwachi admitted to
be the one spotted in Imo state struggling to take photograph with
other photographers, leaving her primary duties of law making for
our people”, Oguji said.

The Committee Chairman said “In the light of the foregoing
going, the committee recommends that Hon. Mrs. Maria Ude Nwachi
should desist from setting illegality and unethical acts which are
not suitable for a parliamentarian.

“Since the committee has not seen sufficient carriage and
comportment on her side as a legislator despite series of warnings
and possible corrections, a maximum period of six months suspension
be given to her to assist her adopt acceptable legislative
conduct”, Ogiji added.

However, there was a mild drama after the committee presented
its report as the Speaker of the House Hon. Francis Nwifuru put the
recommendations of the committee to votes and the Assembly members
opposed the extension of the suspension for six months.
But the Speaker overruled the members and pronounced the
suspension.

“Hon. Maria Nwachi should desist from setting illegality and
unethical acts which are not suitable for a parliamentarian.

“Since the committee has not seen sufficient carriage and
comportment on her as legislature despite series of warning and
possible correction, a maximum period of suspension for six months
should be
given to her to assist her adopt an acceptable legislative
conduct.

“Maria Ude Nwachi is to face a maximum suspension period of six
months starting from today the 6th day of February, 2018”, Nwifuru
ruled. ENDS

Ebonyi state House of Assembly on Tuesday slammed a fresh six
months suspension of the member Representing Afikpo North East
constituency in the Assembly, Hon. Maria Ude Nwachi.

The decision followed the submission of the report of the ad hoc
Committee that investigated the allegations of gross misconduct and
possing as a public photographer.

The House had earlier slammed two weeks suspension on her
following the allegations levelled against her and setup a
committee to investigate the allegations against her and make
recommendations to the Assembly.

She had appeared before the House committee last week where she
admitted wrongdoings and appealed for forgiveness.

The Chairman of the Committee and the Member Representing Ikwo
South Constituency Hon Chike Oguji while presenting the Committee’s
report said Nwachi ran an illegal lottery scheme through her
Facebook group known as Igboist which further degraded the image of
the House.

He, however, noted that Mrs Nwachi comported herself with
decorum throughout the sittings of the committee when she was
invited for interrogation.

“In all the sittings of the committee, Hon. Mrs Maria Ude Nwachi
was invited and she honoured the committee’s invitation and
conducted herself with decorum. She admitted to have displayed some
ethical attitudes and conducts before the committee.

“Hon. Mrs. Maria Ude Nwachi as part of our observations, seems
to regret her act of misconduct and other unethical behaviours that
degrades the reputation and integrity of this House.

“Hon. Mrs. Maria Ude Nwachi runs an illegal lottery scheme
called Igboist thereby creating an environment with which she
engages in
fraudulent acts. Although the forum(Igboist) is not political and
unintended to defraud people, the illegality and criminal nature of
the scheme

destroyed the public confidence in the parliament, thus making
the public to generally accuse the House of corruption,
inefficiency and incompetence.
“She also runs an image promotion with her face book account which
she displays excellent performance of our dear Governor, His
Excellency Engr. Dr. David Nweze Umahi.

“In two sittings of the House, Mrs. Maria Ude Nwachi admitted to
be the one spotted in Imo state struggling to take photograph with
other photographers, leaving her primary duties of law making for
our people”, Oguji said.

The Committee Chairman said “In the light of the foregoing
going, the committee recommends that Hon. Mrs. Maria Ude Nwachi
should desist from setting illegality and unethical acts which are
not suitable for a parliamentarian.

“Since the committee has not seen sufficient carriage and
comportment on her side as a legislator despite series of warnings
and possible corrections, a maximum period of six months suspension
be given to her to assist her adopt acceptable legislative
conduct”, Ogiji added.

However, there was a mild drama after the committee presented
its report as the Speaker of the House Hon. Francis Nwifuru put the
recommendations of the committee to votes and the Assembly members
opposed the extension of the suspension for six months.
But the Speaker overruled the members and pronounced the
suspension.

“Hon. Maria Nwachi should desist from setting illegality and
unethical acts which are not suitable for a parliamentarian.

“Since the committee has not seen sufficient carriage and
comportment on her as legislature despite series of warning and
possible correction, a maximum period of suspension for six months
should be
given to her to assist her adopt an acceptable legislative
conduct.

“Maria Ude Nwachi is to face a maximum suspension period of six
months starting from today the 6th day of February, 2018”, Nwifuru
ruled. ENDS