Edo Assembly Suspends Confirmation Of Commissioner Nominee Until Cleared By DSS Over Petition

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The screening and confirmation of a former member of the Edo State House of Assembly, Chris Okaeben, was put on hold by the House until he is cleared by the Department of State Services (DSS) over a petition before it.

Okaeben was one of the seven commissioner-nominees whose names were forwarded to the House for confirmation by Governor Monday Okpebholo.

The Speaker of the House, Blessing Agbebaku, disclosed the development at an emergency plenary session.

The affected nominee, who represented Oredo West Constituency, had been invited to the chamber alongside others only to be told why he would not be cleared.  

Agbebaku told the House that the report from the screening committee before him stated that the former lawmaker had issues to settle with the DSS.

The speaker 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.”

He was, however, silent on the issues contained in the petition.

Those cleared and confirmed included John Akhigbe, Festus Ebea and Dr Elizabeth Ebosele.

Others were Dr Jerry Uwangue, Dr Kenneth Okoruwa Ihensekhien and Usenbo Paul Ehigie, a lawyer.