The Benue State House of Assembly has suspended its former Majority Leader, Hon. Saater Tiseer, and former Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Michael Audu, over alleged gross misconduct said to be capable of undermining the unity and integrity of the legislature.

Naijaonpoint reports that the decision was reached during plenary on Friday, presided over by Speaker Berger Alfred Emberga.

Moving the motion for their suspension, the current Majority Leader, Hon. Thomas Dugeri, said the conduct of the former leaders brought the House “into disrepute.”

According to him, an ad-hoc committee set up to investigate their activities found them guilty of abusing their offices for personal gain, contrary to the House Standing Orders.

“Their actions were incompatible with their oaths of office and the spirit of legislative responsibility,” Dugeri told lawmakers.

Following the committee’s recommendation, the House resolved to suspend Hon. Saater Tiseer for six months and Hon. Michael Audu for three months.

In a related development, lawmakers also voted to remove Miss Dorcas Faeren Mbatiav from the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission for alleged gross misconduct and breach of public service regulations.

Moving the motion, Hon. Shimawua Terna (Kyan Constituency) said Mbatiav was found to be leaking confidential information belonging to the Commission, an offence which violates Section 6(2) of the Benue State House of Assembly Service Commission (Establishment) Law, 2018.

Members also noted that Mbatiav lacked the mandatory public service background required under Section 5(2)(c) of the law.

Lawmakers argued that allowing her remain on the Commission would “pose a threat to its credibility” and set a harmful precedent.

The House unanimously voted to relieve her of the appointment to “safeguard the integrity and proper functioning” of the Commission.