Only the Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Information are authorised to speak on behalf of the lawmakers, according to the new rule, SaharaReporters has gathered.
Members of the Ondo State House of Assembly have been barred from granting any interviews to journalists as they probe further the controversial N4.3bn found in a ‘secret’ account of the state government.
Only the Speaker and Chairman of the House Committee on Information are authorised to speak on behalf of the lawmakers, according to the new rule, SaharaReporters has gathered.
This was part of decisions reached in Akure, the state capital, on Monday afternoon.
The decision was disclosed by Olugbenga Omole, spokesperson for the House of Assembly in a statement issued in Akure.
SaharaReporters had reported that the meeting was held at the official residence of the Speaker, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun, in the Alagbaka area of Akure.
Some armed policemen from the anti-riot unit were sighted in strategic locations close to the Speaker's lodge during the meeting on Monday afternoon. [story_link align="left"]80975[/story_link]
But the lawmakers noted that the officers were only on the ground to ensure maximum security of the venue.
"No member of the House of Assembly should talk to the press without referring to Mr Speaker.
"The only person authorised to speak on behalf of the House is the Chairman, House Committee on Information.”
While stressing that they were still investigating the transactions on the ‘secret’ account, the lawmakers said they were ensuring a "robust relationship" with members of the state’s executive arm to get to the root of the matter.
They added that there was no plan to impeach Governor Rotimi Akeredolu following the discovery of the N4.3bn in the ‘secret’ account.
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