His suspension comes after he accused the state governor, Dapo Abiodun of diverting over N17 billion Federal Allocation Funds meant for the local government areas in the state since 2021.
Councilors in the Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State have reportedly suspended the Chairman of the local government, Wale Adedayo, for three months.
His suspension comes after he accused the state governor, Dapo Abiodun of diverting over N17 billion Federal Allocation Funds meant for the local government areas in the state since 2021.
Reacting to the report of the impeachment, Adedayo, who earlier hinted that the governor was organising a kangaroo impeachment process in the local government against him, told The Punch that the impeachment report might be true.
He noted that policemen stormed the local government secretariat on Thursday morning alongside some thugs whom he had earlier identified as members of the Black Axe confraternity based in Ijebu Ode.
Responding to an inquiry on his reported impeachment, Adedayo said, “It might be true. Policemen bombarded the office along with thugs this morning.”
It was gathered that over a hundred mobile policemen on Thursday morning invaded the LGA’s secretariat following the governor’s alleged move to impeach Adedayo who accused him of withholding federal government allocations meant for LGAs in the state.
The report said that seven councillors namely Fasheyi Adesuji representing Itele Ward 7; Bolutife Osunfisan representing Imushin Ward 2; Kemi Aliu, representing Imobi Ward 10; Adeniyi Adenuga representing Imusin Ward 1; Abass Sidikat representing Owu Ward 5; Biyi Oguntubo representing Imobi Ward 9, and Rotimi Williams representing Ajebandele Ward 11, on Thursday, said the LGA’s legislative council received various allegations that needed to be investigated.
They directed Adedayo to appear before the council at its next sitting on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that Adedayo had been summoned by the Secretary to the State Government and invited by the Department of State Services (DSS) to appear at its Abeokuta office on Friday for questioning.
Adedayo said on Thursday, “I have been summoned to Abeokuta for a meeting with the Secretary to the State Government and possibly Mr. Governor too. On my way there now.
“The Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) in my local government has also been summoned along with the Clerk of our Legislative House.
“Efforts were made to give money to our councillors to impeach me yesterday. But they were only able to get four of our 11 councillors.
“The Department of State Services called a few minutes back that I should see the State Director in Abeokuta by 10 tomorrow.
“The Ogun State chairman of RTEAN, Akibu Efele, I learnt has been instructed to 'deal with' me along with some Black Axe members based in Ijebu Ode.”
In a resolution letter exclusively obtained by The Punch, which was signed by the seven councillors, including the leader of the House, Fasheyi Adesuji, representing Itele Ward 7, 15 allegations were levelled against the suspended chairman.
They accused Adedayo of withdrawing “N4 million from LG account for empowerment in 2022, which never took place. Wastage of N2 million on Iṣẹṣe Day on August 20, 2022. Duty tour allowance of N260,000 for the chairman and other top functionaries in June 2023.
“Another duty tour allowance for the chairman and other top officials’ engagement in Abeokuta to the tune of N250,000, also ratified in June 2023. N426,000 was purportedly spent on the production of a report on the 2020 Jigbo festival Ijẹbu-East when we were even yet to be elected. Claimant of N350,000 for the inauguration of Women in Politics in Ijebu-East in 2022; the money was not released to the group in 2022.
“Entertainment and other logistics expenses during the commissioning of a legislative building at N350,000 on April 18, 2023. Another entertainment on that same commissioning of the legislative building at N295,000 same day, 18th of April 2023. The second N8.2 million was sent from phase 2 of the project (table and the chair for schools) 20 chairs were made with N8.2m.
“Another N20million allocation from the state is nowhere to be found. Another N15 million sent from the state went the same way without any project to show for it. Award of two boreholes at the cost of N1.8 million each totaling N3.6million in August 2023. While he collects N3 million monthly as security votes, he has held on to the N300,000 monthly security vote of the Vice Chairman for about five months. He has refused to pay up despite several interventions and meetings on the issue by the ALGON executive, led by Tunde Emiola.
“Inability to account for over N2.5 million left in the Project Account of the council by the previous administration for the completion of a school at Kajola, ogbere. The school remains uncompleted to date. Illegal tax collection from Okada riders and drivers via what the chairman called “levy” without the approval of the Legislative Council, which is double taxation for the people of Ijebu East at this tough period. Having received the above allegations, there is a need for a thorough investigation by the House.”
The house further resolved: “That the chairman steps aside for the proper conduct of investigations. The council chairman, Hon. Wale Adedayo, is hereby suspended for three months pending the conclusion of the investigations and therefore directed to handover all the properties of the council in his possession to the Vice Chairman, who will act as the Chairman during the suspension of the Chairman as provided in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The council chairman is directed to appear before the House on the next sitting of the House on Thursday, September 14, 2023. The Council Treasurer, through the Head of the Local Government Administration, should furnish the financial/bank statement of the Council in the last two years, along with other relevant documents and vouchers as the House may require in order to aid investigations. That the above Resolutions be copied to the Governor of Ogun State and the Ogun State House of Assembly. The sitting is hereby adjourned to Thursday, September 14, 2023.”
Adedayo had dragged Abiodun before the Economic Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), demanding the investigation of the governor over the alleged mismanagement of local government funds.
He accused Governor Abiodun of withholding the statutory Federal Allocation due to the state’s local governments in the last two years, adding that Governor Abiodun had not paid a dime to local government accounts as federal allocation in the last two years.
However, the governor denied the allegation, saying that his administration had to augment the funds allocated to local governments in the state to enable the council chairmen to meet their obligations.