The Anambra State House of Assembly has suspended the member representing Ayamelum Constituency, Hon. Bernard Udemezue, for three months over a controversial social media post.
The suspension was announced on Tuesday during plenary after the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Rules, Business, Ethics and Privileges, chaired by Majority Leader Sir Ikenna Ofodeme.
The committee described Udemezue’s action as “unparliamentary” and recommended that he be barred from the Assembly complex for the duration of the suspension. It further directed that his salaries and entitlements for the three months be withheld.
The sanction followed a WhatsApp message allegedly shared by the lawmaker in a group for his constituents, in which he reportedly disclosed his allowances and claimed that each legislator receives ₦10 million quarterly for constituency projects. The revelation was said to have angered his colleagues.
Reacting, Udemezue defended his action, saying he was only being transparent with his constituents. “I did nothing wrong. My aim was to update my people on my stay in the Assembly,” he said.
He further alleged that his suspension was an attempt to silence him for exposing how constituency funds were managed. “I am only being victimised because I revealed that lawmakers collect ₦10 million quarterly for constituency projects. Some of them pocket theirs,” he claimed.
