_House acts on Governor Alia’s letter, says suspension necessary to allow unimpeded investigation.

By Felix Umade, Makurdi

The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended the Auditor General for Local Government, Mr. Abraham Gberidyer, over allegations of financial misappropriation and fraud involving ₦4.6 billion.

The resolution was passed unanimously during a plenary session on Tuesday, presided over by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Berger Alfred Emberga, MNIQS, RQS.

The suspension followed a formal letter from Governor Hyacinth Alia, transmitted to the House through the Office of the Head of Service. In the letter, the governor outlined “serious financial impropriety” levelled against Gberidyer and informed the legislature that the Auditor General is currently under investigation for corruption.

According to the correspondence, Gberidyer cannot remain in office while the probe is ongoing, in line with constitutional provisions relating to the removal of a corrupt public officer. The governor urged the House to act to ensure the integrity of the process and to prevent interference with the investigation.

Lawmakers debated the matter briefly before resolving that suspending the Auditor General was the most appropriate step to uphold transparency and accountability in the management of local government finances.

“The House unanimously suspends the Auditor General from office to pave the way for a proper investigation,” the Speaker announced after the voice vote.

The office of the Auditor General for Local Government is constitutionally mandated to audit and report on the financial activities of all 23 local government councils in the state. The position is considered critical to ensuring fiscal discipline and preventing misuse of public funds at the grassroots level.

The ₦4.6 billion in question is said to relate to irregularities flagged in the administration and disbursement of local government allocations. While details of the specific transactions have not been made public, the scale of the alleged fraud has raised concern among lawmakers and civil society groups, particularly given the financial strain on many LGAs in the state.

Political observers say the move also signals a renewed push by the legislature to assert its oversight role. By acting swiftly on the governor’s request, the House has avoided what could have been a protracted standoff between the executive and the audit office.

The Assembly did not announce an interim replacement for the Auditor General, but legislative sources indicate that a senior official within the office is expected to be appointed in an acting capacity pending the outcome of the investigation.

With Gberidyer now out of office, anti-corruption and investigative agencies are expected to intensify their probe. The House has not specified a timeline for the investigation but said it would monitor developments closely to ensure due process is followed.

–As police arrest, repatriate $245 million ponzi Chinese suspect

By Our Reporter

Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has called on Nigerians to embark on due diligence with the police before employing or doing any business with foreigners.

This call is coming on the heels of the recent arrest and repatriation of a Chinese fugitive, Qu Qing, to account for his alleged crimes.

Qu Qing was arrested and repatriated to China over $245 million ponzi fraud through a coordinated operation between the Nigeria Police Force and the INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB) Abuja.

The repatriation, according to Force spokesman, DCP Anthony Placid, was as a result of a formal request from Chinese authorities, who declared the suspect wanted in Beijing for his alleged involvement in a financial fraud scheme estimated at over Two Hundred and Forty-Five Million United States Dollars ($245,000,000).

Placid added, investigations revealed that the suspect fled China to Nigeria on 5th November 2024 in an attempt to evade arrest, following which an arrest warrant was issued against him on 12th November 2025 by the Shinan Sub-Bureau of Qingdao Public Security.

Acting on intelligence and sustained surveillance operations, operatives of INTERPOL NCB Abuja successfully tracked and arrested the fugitive at a factory located in Olowotedo, Siun Village, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on 24th April 2026.

He revealed that after the arrest, the suspect was repatriated to the People’s Republic of China on 28th April 2026 through bilateral police cooperation arrangements to face prosecution for the offences.

The House of Representatives has mandated regulatory bodies on the siting of gas filling stations and outlets to be strict in the enforcement of location rules.

It has also mandated the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to urgently provide relief materials to affected victims of gas explosion in the Apapa area of Lagos.

The resolutions were taken following the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Hon Adesola Adedayo representing Apapa federal constituency of Lagos state.

Presenting the motion, the lawmaker anoted with grave concern the incident of a gas explosion, which occurred in the early hours of Tuesday, 5th May, 2026, along Adeleye Street, Area of Apapa Federal Constituency, Lagos State.

He said the explosion took place at a site where construction activities are ongoing at the back of two shops, leading to extensive damage of nearby structures, huge financial and material losses and serious injury of varying degrees to five individuals, of which one of the victims happened to be a student on his way to school.

“Cognisant that the swift response of the residents of the neighbourhood and State Fire Service personnel to mitigate the disaster by conveying the victims to Gbagada General Hospital and other nearby health facilities for prompt medical attention and treatment is commendable.

“Concerned about the recurring incidence of gas explosions in such high density, low-income residential areas and the huge losses of lives and properties”.

The motion was unanimously adopted at the plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Kalu.

Speaking to the media after the plenary, the lawmaker said it was important that the various government agencies act swiftly.

He lamented that indiscriminate opening up of gas shops and outlets was response for several avoidable accidents.