‘Intellectual Theft’ Scandal Rocks Delta Assembly As Real Reason For Suspension Of APC Lawmaker Emerges

There seems to be a scandal rocking the Delta State House of Assembly currently as real reason for the suspension of Hon. Matthew Omonade, the lawmaker representing Ughelli North 1 constituency, has emerged.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpennge.com) reports that Omonade, who is also the chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, was suspended on Tuesday for “gross misconduct”.

He was allegedly accused of “willfully and falsely perverted the proceedings of the House on Wednesday, May 8, 2024”, according to the Majority Leader, Emeka Nwaobi who stated that the action violates the standing order and rules of the House, hence the suspension.

But multiple sources revealed that the Lawmaker was actually suspended after he accused the House of plagiarizing his bill on electricity generation and distribution in Delta State.

According to sources in the House, Omonade had sponsored the bill but was not listed by the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, and later presented as an “Executive Bill” without his consent, which he viewed as “intellectual theft“.

Corroborating this, a principal member of the House, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed to Sahara Reporters that Omonade was suspended for challenging the House over his bill that was plagiarized and for asking that the bill be withdrawn.

“He prepared a bill on electricity generation and distribution in Delta State and forwarded a copy to the Speaker, Emomotimi Guwor, to be listed for reading last December, but he refused to enlist the bill. And surprisingly, the bill came to the floor of the House as an executive bill, copied word for word with all the mistakes duplicated in it,” the source said.

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The dependable source added, “He protested that the bill he gave to the Speaker, which he refused to list, could not be turned into an Executive Bill without giving him the credit he deserved. He then moved that the bill be withdrawn. But rather than acknowledge him, his action was seen as a slap on the face of the Speaker and the House, so he was suspended for 14 days.”

“That was exactly what happened “, the source affirmed.

Reacting to his suspension, Omonade called on his constituents and supporters to remain calm, describing the issue as an in-house matter that would soon be resolved.

Efforts to reach the House of Assembly Speaker, Guwor, for comments failed as he did not answer his calls and did not reply to the text message sent to him.
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