The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday declined to screen and confirm a former member, Chris Okaeben, for appointment as commissioner, over an alleged petition before the Department of State Service, DSS.
DAILY POST reports that the Speaker of the Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, disclosed this during the confirmation of commissioner-nominations at an emergency plenary sitting.
The nominee, who was a former member of the House representing Oredo West Constituency, was among six nominees called inside the chamber for confirmation.
Agbebaku told the House that the report from the screening committee before him stated that the former lawmaker has issues to settle with the DSS.
He said, “Six out of the seven commissioner-nominees before us today have been cleared and confirmed, except one, who is our former colleague, Hon Chris Okaeben, who has a question to answer with DSS. So I think he has to report to the DSS office for clearance.
“That is the report before me. The report is from the screening committee and I am not a member of the committee. The committee submitted a report.
“After his appearance with the DSS. They can take him and clear him. That is not a problem at all.”
The Speaker did not disclose the nature of the petition the embattled lawmaker has with the security agency.
Meanwhile, the House cleared and confirmed, John Akhigbe, Festus Ebea and Dr Elizabeth Ebosele.
Others are Dr Jerry Uwangue, Dr Kenneth Okoruwa Ihensekhien and Barr. Usenbo Paul Ehigie.
