Benue Lawmakers Reject Law Professor As Commissioner

The Benue State House of Assembly has rejected the nomination of Prof Timothy Ornguga as Commissioner over allegations contained in four petitions against him from his former students and for lacking a primary school certificate.

The Assembly, however, screened and confirmed six other nominees forwarded to it by Governor Hyacinth Alia as Commissioners and members of the State Executive Council.

The lawmakers at plenary presided over by the speaker, Aondona Dajoh, asked Governor Alia to send replacements for Ornguga and James Dwen as both men failed to disapprove the allegations contained in the petitions submitted against their nominations.

After Ornguga, a law professor, introduced himself, the Majority Leader, Saater Tiseer, presented four petitions written against him, while the lawmaker representing Tarka Constituency, Manger Manger, queried his academic credentials.

In his defense, the nominee clarified what happened with a particular student whose grades he allegedly tampered with, claiming the Dean of Benue State University was responsible for the interference.

After the screening of all eight nominees from the first list sent by Governor Alia, six were cleared and two rejected.

The state assembly will reconvene on Friday to continue with the screening process, following the confirmation of Theresa Ikwue, Benjamin Ashaver, Adamu Ijaguwa, Peter Egbodo, Denis Iyaighgba and Paul Ogwuche as Commissioners-designate.