Lawmakers in Wau State assembly have passed a vote of no confidence against the state health minister, James Patrick Ibrahim for failure to honour summons.
The legislators reached the decision on Wednesday after Ibrahim failed to appear before them to answer questions relating to alleged corruption within his ministry.
Agiu Athuai, the chairperson for the parliamentary committee for information, said the health minister did not convince lawmakers on five key issues he was asked to explain during his second summon by the state assembly.
“The assembly gave the minister seven days to go and return what he had utilized, so that’s the reason for the third summon,” he added.
The acting speaker, Viola Alexander concluded during Wednesday’s sitting that the health minister be removed.
“We passed a vote of no confidence by resolution, because we agreed in the last sitting that let him come back so that certain things are refunded, but he did not show up,” said Alexander.
According to Article 114 of the state assembly’s conduct of business regulation, upon a vote of no confidence being passed against a minister, he or she shall resign or be removed from office by the governor.
On June 19, state lawmakers summoned the health minister to answer questions in relation to the president’s donation of 500,000 SSP meant for Wau Teaching Hospital, among other undisclosed issues.