Nigeria, June 6 -- The Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Udeme Otong, has suspended his Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ebong, over a controversial statement announcing the Assembly's planned return to its chambers, currently under renovation.

The suspension followed a statement issued on 2 June titled, "AKHA to Resume Plenary at Udo Udoma Complex Next Week," which the speaker's office described as unauthorised and misleading.

In a suspension notice dated 3 June, the speaker, Mr Otong, said the publication was issued solely at the directive of Mr Ebong without his approval.

"The publication was issued without the knowledge or authorisation of the Speaker. The action by Mr Ebong is a serious breach of official protocol and con...