June 07, (THEWILL) – The House of Representatives has referred its member representing Ideato Federal Constituency in Imo State, Ikenga Ugochinyere, to the Committee on Ethics, for investigation over his solidarity visit to the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.
The lawmaker is facing the probe after leading about 50 lawmakers to attend the first anniversary of the governor in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital.
Ugochinyere, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), is one of the vocal supporters of Governor Fubara in the House.
The decision of the House to investigate Ugochinyere followed a point of privilege raised by Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau) during plenary on Thursday.
Gagdi, citing Order Six, Rule One, said his privilege as a member of the House was breached as the lawmaker misinterpreted the visit of some lawmakers to the Rivers Governor. He stated that Ugochinyere issued a statement to the press on the visit, giving the impression that the lawmakers represented the House.
He also claimed that the lawmakers were members of the Local Content Committee and were in Rivers for an overnight assignment, but used the opportunity to pay a courtesy visit to the governor.
“One of our colleagues issued a press statement that the delegation was in River State for a solidarity visit to the governor. It is okay to do a solidarity visit but not for members to be misrepresented. I urge the House to look for this publication and interact with Ikenga”, he said.
While Gagdi was moving the motion, some of the lawmakers who attended the meeting tried to raise a point of order, but the Deputy Speaker, Ben Kalu, who presided over the session, shut them down.
Kalu, who insisted that points of privilege are not to be debated, referred Ugochinyere to the Committee on Ethics for investigation.
