The Edo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, declined to confirm the commissioner nomination of a former member of the Assembly, Chris Okaeben.
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The Speaker of the Assembly, Blessing Agbebaku, during an emergency plenary sitting, said Okaeben’s confirmation was declined over an alleged petition before the Department of State Services.
Okaeben, who was a former member representing Oredo West Constituency, was among six nominees called inside the chamber for confirmation.
However, Agbebaku told the House that the report from the screening committee indicated that the former lawmaker was being investigated by the DSS.
He said, “Six out of the seven commissioner-nominees before us today have been cleared and confirmed, except one, who is our former colleague, Chris Okaeben. He has a question to answer with DSS. So, 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.”
The Speaker did not disclose the nature of the petition the lawmaker has with the security agency.
Meanwhile, the House cleared and confirmed John Akhigbe, Festus Ebea and Dr Elizabeth Ebosele.
Others are Dr Jerry Uwangue, Dr Kenneth Okoruwa Ihensekhien and Barr. Usenbo Paul Ehigie.
A close confidant of Okaeben, who pleaded anonymity, said the ex-lawmaker was unaware of the petition against him and only got to know about it when he appeared at the Assembly for screening.
The source said, “Yes, it’s true he wasn’t cleared. It was when he got to the Assembly that he was told about the petition. I am sure the issue around the petition will be solved, and he will be screened.”
Okaeben was elected to the Edo State House of Assembly in 2015, representing the Oredo West Constituency.
He was re-elected in 2019, serving two terms in office from 2015 to 2023.
He began his public service career as Supervisory Councillor for Works and Transport in Oredo Local Government Area from 2007 to 2008.
He later served as Senior Special Assistant (Youth Employment), Edo State Government from 2009 to 2010, Secretary to the Council, Oredo Local Government from 2010 to 2012 and Executive Director, Petroleum Monitoring Committee, Edo State from 2012 to 2013.
In 2014, Okaeben was appointed Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Edo State under Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
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