Bayesla Assembly Lists Offences Against Dep Gov …As Police Confirm Blast In Yenagoa

Embattled Bayelsa State Deputy Governor,. Peremobowei Ebebi has been asked to account for N29.6m medical allowance for overseas treatment, as the House of Assembly in a 10 count impeachable offences levelled against him, submitted that he neither travelled nor returned the money to government coffer.

Also, the House on Thursday dropped Hon. Robert Enogha as its Chairman House Committee on Information. However, a source described the development as a routine exercise that has no political colouration.

Seventeen out of the twenty-four members that constituted the House on Tuesday signed an impeachment notice, which the Speaker,. Werinipre Seibarugu ordered to be served on all the members of the House including the Deputy Governor.

The notice reads; we the undersigned Honourable members of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly do hereby give you notice that: Peremobowei Ebebi, the Deputy Governor of Bayelsa state is guilty of gross misconduct in the performance of the functions of his office, which renders him liable to be impeached from office.

The notice was signed by Nestor Binabo, Obuebite Jonathan, Alfred Egba, Igrubia walaman, James Ayobegha, Benson Konbowei, Fini Angaye, Kuroakegha Dorgu and Fanama Emomotimi.

Others are Yousou Amalanyo, Chief Victor Sam-Ateki, Ebamua Empere, Kalabo Hawkins, Nadu Karibo, Mrs Ruby Benjamin, franklin Otele and Otobo Opusiri.

Offences levelled against the Deputy Governor include absenting himself from the weekly Executive Council meeting since January 2010 as well as state functions without lawful excuse since February 2010, abandonment of office and official residence since February 2010.

He was alleged to have applied for and received the sum of twenty nine million, six hundred and sixty thousand, nine hundred naira for medical treatment in Germany but misappropriated the money as he neither travelled nor refunded the money to the state treasury.

The signatories also alleged that Peremobowei Ebebi in  a press interview declared that he can no longer work with Chief Timipre Sylva and that this statement is a clear expression of his insubordination and unwillingness to harmoniously work with the governor.

It was also alleged that Peremobowei Ebebi portrayed and ridiculed the Bayelsa State House of Assembly by portraying it as an idle Assembly that sits occasionally only when they have money.

Meanwhile, the Bayelsa State Police Command has confirmed the incident of bomb blasts that rocked different parts of Yenagao, the State capital on Wednesday night, but says there was no casualty even though full investigation has began.

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr Solomon Omemein who stated this while interacting with members of the Correspondents Chapel of the State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ) said that the incident occurred at point in Baybrigdge Road, near a fence separating a building and that of the residence of the embattle Deputy Governor of Bayelsa State, Mr Peremobowei Ebebi, another one at Etegwe while the third one occurred at the De Prize Hotel.

De Prize Hotel , along the busy Azikoro road is owned by a serving lawmaker and it is believed to be the meeting point of anti-government group, the Save Nigeria Group, (SNG).

The bomb blast, the second in less than two months is coming two days after the State House of Assembly has kick off the impeachment process of the deputy governor.

Even though the Police PRO has assured that there is no cause for alarm

As the situation has been brought under control but tension and fear has continued to enveloped residents since the Wednesday incident.

Meanwhile, 50 members of SNG who were arrested and detained on Tuesday following their protest against anti-government policies were on Wednesday afternoon released on bail.

Among the group were a pregnant wife of the leader of the group, Mrs Nyanayo Nathan, his aged father Nathan Ile, were arrested at Igbogene as they set to protest against the Sylva-led administration. Though Pa Ile was not among the group, his arrest was supposed to deter his son from going ahead with the protest.

The leader of the group, on their release alleged that they were approached by government agents to suspend the protest and promised N12 million but when they refused, they were visited with police arrest and detention for two days.