Governor fires A-G for joining suit against EFCC, ICPC

The Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has suspended the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bemsen Mnyim, for joining in the suit challenging the legality of the country’s anti-graft agencies without a recourse to him.

The governor said his administration is holding those who stole public funds accountable and he is being assisted by the affected anti- graft agencies.

“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,” the governor said.

It would be recalled that some states dragged the Federal Government to court over the legality of the country’s anti-graft agencies.

The agencies that are of interest to the states are the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission and the Nigerian Intelligence Financial Unit (NFIU).

A statement on Wednesday by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Tersoo Kula, disclosed that Alia announced the suspension of Mnyim after the Benue State Executive Council meeting, also on Wednesday.

Kula said the governor gave the directive at the Government House during a press conference.

He stated that the suspension was necessitated by Mnyim’s ultra vires decision to join the state in a suit challenging the legality of the EFCC and ICPC.

He said: “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.”