Edo Assembly Sets Up Committee to Investigate Former Speaker

Bright Iyamu is the chairman of the five-person committee formed by the Edo State House of Assembly. This committee will look into the actions of former speaker Blessing Agbebaku. Iyamu promised that the investigation will be open, fair, and not aimed at personal attacks.

Iyamu spoke after the committee was inaugurated on Tuesday in Benin. He represents Orhionmwon South State Constituency. He said this investigation is just part of democracy and is not focused on any one person.

"I want to let you know that it is not a witch-hunt. What you are seeing today is the beauty of democracy."

"In democracy, the people choose you. When they are tired of you, they will say, okay, you can go, let’s try somebody else. That is what happened. The allegations are not yet proven 100 percent. I cannot measure some of them now, but as we go forward, it will begin to unveil," Iyamu said.

Iyamu, who was surprised to be made chairman, promised to carry out a thorough and open investigation with the other four members. He said, "For the former speaker, we are all one in the house of assembly, but that does not mean we cannot do what we are asked to do."

"Today, I am the chairman of the committee. I will do my best to do a thorough job. The other four members and I will work together. We will strategise to make sure that we tell the world the real truth, only the truth," he added.

Investigation Focus

Iyamu shared that the committee will first look into the house’s finances, especially vehicle purchases.

"We will be looking at the finances. Most of the time, finance is the thing that causes problems in every organisation or institution. So, that is the first thing we will be looking at."

"We will check if a vehicle was bought or whatever, whether it went through due process or not," he explained.

He assured everyone that the investigation would be open to the public and free of bias.

"The former speaker is not my enemy; he is my friend. But when I am given a job to do, I do it diligently. We will ensure the investigation is open. We will make everybody understand that this is an open policy. We are not trying to be vindictive," he said.

The committee has two weeks to report back on its findings. It will investigate claims of corruption and inflated costs in the purchase of Lexus SUVs and Hilux trucks during Agbebaku’s time as speaker.

This committee was formed after Agbebaku resigned and was suspended. Trouble started for him during a plenary on Monday when allegations of financial misconduct were made against him.

The main issue was that he inflated procurement costs for official vehicles, including Lexus 570 SUVs and Hilux trucks meant for lawmakers. Following heated discussions and pressure from fellow lawmakers, Agbebaku resigned. The house then quickly elected Yekini Idaiye as the new speaker.