The Benue State House of Assembly has approved the suspension of the Auditor-General for Local Government, Abraham Gberidyer, over allegations of fraud and financial mismanagement involving N4.6 billion.
The decision was taken during plenary led by Speaker Berger Emberga after Governor Hyacinth Alia sent a letter to the Assembly through the Office of the Head of Service.
According to the statement, the governor informed lawmakers about “serious financial impropriety” allegedly linked to the Auditor-General.
The letter also stated that Gberidyer is under investigation for corruption and “cannot continue to hold his office” while the probe is ongoing.
Lawmakers unanimously supported the suspension to allow for a proper investigation into the allegations.
During the same sitting, the Assembly passed a bill for the creation and adoption of the Benue State symbol and anthem after reviewing a report presented by the House Committee on Culture and Tourism.
The Speaker directed the clerk to prepare clean copies of the bill for the governor’s assent.
The Assembly also considered other bills, including one seeking to update the state’s lotteries and sports marketing law, which was referred to the relevant committee for further review.
