It would be recalled that a member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Herman Hemebe is currently facing trial at an Abuja High Court for a similar offence.
According to the Petition, on May 2, 2012, Hon. Benson forwarded a memorandum to the Governor of Bayelsa requesting for approval and release of the sum of N78,000,000 to enable members of the House of Assembly attend the Parliamentary Conference in South africa. On June 28, 2012, the Governor approved the request and ordered the release of the money to the Speaker who received the money and disbursed it to other members of the House.
The Speaker and other members of the House were alleged to have proceeded on leave after adjoining sittings of the House.
“Unknown to Bayelsans, the Honourable Speaker and other members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly allegedly never attended the conference but simply allegedly converted the funds given to them for their personal use. While the conference which started on the 29th of June was underway, the Honourable Speaker and members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly were reportedly and allegedly engaged in a frolic of their own in Nigeria until the 7th of July 2012”, the Group said in their petition.
The Group further stated that the Speaker and the other legislators left the country for South Africa on July 7 for a Conference that was slated to end on July 8, 2012. When they got to South Africa in the morning of July 8, they went straight to their Hotel without attending the Conference.
When they eventually returned to Nigeria on July 10, 2012, they allegedly announced to the people of Bayelsa State that the Conference they never attended was very successful and that they were better equipped to perform their constitutional duties for the benefit of the people of Bayelsa State.
The Civil Society Group therefore appealed to the Inspector General to investigate the allegation and ensure that the legislators are brought to book if culpable.
The petition dated July 30, 2012 was signed on behalf of the Group by its Coordinator, Mr. U.F. Mohammed.
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