Adebayo Adenrele
The Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia, has revealed why he suspended his Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bemsen Mnyim.
Mnyim, in a statement made available to journalists by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, was suspended for challenging the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) at the Supreme Court.
The Governor announced the permanent suspension of the AG at the Government House during a press conference shortly after the Benue State Executive Council meeting.
He stated that the suspension was necessitated by Barr. Mnyim’s ultra vires decision to join the state in a suit challenging the legality of anti-graft agencies, namely the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
“No appointee is permitted to act unilaterally. No matter how pressing or urgent the issue is, one must resort to due consultations with me or appropriately brief me and seek my permission before acting, especially in a sensitive matter such as this.
“My administration is holding accountable those who embezzled money and drained our state dry. The EFCC and ICPC are assisting us in this effort.
“How can I now turn around and begin to challenge these watchdogs? I gave no permission for him to enter an appearance for the state. Because he acted on his own, I hereby suspend him indefinitely pending a satisfactory explanation of his actions.”