By Austin Ogwuda
Embattled Member representing Ughelli North 1 Constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon. (Barr.), Matthew Omonade who was suspended during Tuesday’s plenary over act of “gross misconduct” has succumbed to pressure.
The Lawmaker, a lawyer by profession, according to reliable sources has back-tracked and tendered apology under duress .
“As we speak he has apologised since nobody was standing by him as he foresees that continuing in the fight might consume him since the Executive is involved”, one of the credible sources told The Townhall, an hour ago.
Fresh facts revealed that the Bill in question is a national one that needed to be domesticated here at the State level.
“This young man (Omonade) actually came to the House well prepared so he carried out extensive research on the Bill and after working on it he passed a copy to Mr Speaker who subsequently forwarded same to the governor.
“The funny and ridiculous aspect of it was that it (Bill) returned to the House as it was worked upon by Omonade even with all the errors that is the genesis of the matter. And when he raised eyebrows, suspension followed”, the source added.
This allegation of plagiarism amounting to intellectual theft was earlier collaborated by another competent source who said,
“Barrister Matthew Omonade sponsored a Bill about the generation and distribution of electricity in Delta State and obliged the Speaker a copy for listing on the order paper which the Speaker failed to do. All of a sudden, that same bill came to the floor of the House as an Executive Bill without his name on it and he protested against it. This was why he was suspended”.
Although his apology has not been made public, The Townhall will keep a tab on the story as the drama unfolds.
The Townhall had earlier reported that some Members of the House co-sponsored the Bill but have been cowed; they have since gone underground with tongues tied, having no liver to back Omonade.