Posted by From Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on
Palpable grief filled the air of the National Assembly yesterday when federal lawmakers received the news of the sudden death of Senator Joshua Atume Adagba (PDP, Benue North-west) Adagba, a consultant gynecologist, was named as the Senate Committee on Health chairman in the reshuffling of committees announced by the President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani last Tuesday.
* Nnamani sacks aide over fraud
Palpable grief filled the air of the National Assembly yesterday when federal lawmakers received the news of the sudden death of Senator Joshua Atume Adagba (PDP, Benue North-west) Adagba, a consultant gynecologist, was named as the Senate Committee on Health chairman in the reshuffling of committees announced by the President of the Senate, Senator Ken Nnamani last Tuesday.
He was elected into the Senate in 2003 and he
succeeded Senator JKN Waku. A devoted Catholic, the Senator was said to have taken ill last Wednesday and attended the National Assembly Clinic before he was referred to the National Hospital, where he was being treated for an undisclosed ailment. Adagba was said to have gone to the National Hospital last Monday to continue his treatment but passed out in the process.
The Senate Deputy Majority Leader, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, in confirming the death said arrangements are being made between the Senate and the family of Adagba on his burial. Also yesterday, The President of the Senate, Nnamani, approved the dismissal of his personal secretary, Mr. Emeka Ikwuoma, for fraudulently using the platform of the Office to procure two trailers of grains from the national strategic grains reserve. According to a statement from the Office of the President of the Senate signed by Nnamani's Special Assistant (Public Communication), Mr. Austen Adamu, and made available to newsmen yesterday, said the secretary turned out to be the first person to offend Senator Nnamani's injunction that none of his personal or official staff should use his office to seek favour.
The statement read: "The Senate President has approved the immediate dismissal of Mr. Emeka Ikwuoma, his Personal Secretary, for abuse of his official position and the trust of the Senate President. 'The Senate President expressed disappointment that Mr. Ikwuoma has turned out to be the first to break his rule that none of his staff should use his office to seek favours or indulge in inappropriate conduct." "He reminded all his staff of this standing rule and warned that any infraction would be promptly punished."