Some human rights groups and constituents of Edo South senatorial district said on Friday that they have formally initiated the recall of their representative at the National Assembly, NASS, Senator Neda Imasuen of the Labour Party (LP).
Expressing dissatisfaction with his performance at a press conference in Benin on Friday by representatives of five out of the seven local governments that make up Edo South, they consequently passed a no confidence vote in him citing alleged legislative failure, corruption, abuse of office and betrayal of public trust.
Senator Imasuen is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions which recommended the six months suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan representing Kogi Central who had accused the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of sexual harassment. His committee is also investigating Akpoti-Uduaghan’s petition against Akpabio.
The groups demanded his prosecution over the circumstances surrounding his alleged disbarment by the New York State Supreme Court in 2010.
According to the CSOs and displeased constituents, “Given the international nature of these allegations, INTERPOL’s cooperation is necessary to ensure a thorough, independent and global investigation”.
They emphasised that Senator Imasuen’s constituents deserved credible, accountable and transparent representative.
Leaders of the group include, Kola Edokpayi (Oredo), Caesar Garrick (Ikpoba -Okha), Aghatise Raphael (Ovia South West), Ogbu David (Uhunwode), Okorie Kingsley (Ovia North East) and Hanson Orako (Egor).
Further alleging that Senator Imasuen had no constituency projects in his senatorial district, they accused him of distancing himself from the people.
They therefore gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Senate and anti-graft agencies 14 days to take action on their petition.
However, in his reaction, the embattled Senator Imasuen dismissed the allegations, stating that his accusers were recently invited to Kogi State.
According to him, “they are doing hatchet job because they are being paid from Kogi. I don’t see why someone is being paid to throw stones in his father’s house”.