The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has released the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Uyi Igbe; Majority Leader, Philip Shaibu; and the Chief Whip, Folly Ogedengbe.
The three principal Assembly officers were invited by anti-graft agency to appear before it on Wednesday.
But the Chairman, House Committee on Youths, Sports and Information, Adjoto Kabiru, had on Thursday raised the alarm over the alleged detention of the three lawmakers by the EFCC on the allegation of forging the signature of another member of the House.
Speaking at the Benin Airport, the Speaker expressed dissatisfaction with the agency, which has busied itself with the affairs of the Assembly rather than focus its attention on investigating financial crimes.
He, however, assured the people that the House would continue to remain focused on its constitutional duties and not be intimidated.
Igbe said, “I was under the impression that they were to investigate financial misappropriations, only for us to get there and issues that concerned the House of Assembly was what they(EFCC officials) were bringing up.
“What they were telling us was that somebody alleged that we forged the signature among the signatures that we used to impeach the former Deputy Speaker, Festus Ebea.
“I was taken completely aback. Then again, I’m not too surprised because we all know that this is the systematic way they have been using to harass and intimidate us since.
“But I want them to know that this is only going to make us stronger. We will remain focused. We will not shake. We refuse to be intimidated.”
Meanwhile, the Edo State Police Command has said that it has charged 22 suspects in connection with last Saturday’s attack at the Edo State House of Assembly Legislators’ Quartres to an Oredo Magistrate Court in Benin.
