It was learnt that the state lawmakers has summoned the State Accountant-General and members of the Joint Account Allocations Committee over alleged diversion of councils’ allocations, Daily Trust reports.
The Ogun State House of Assembly has commenced the probe of alleged diversion of local government funds in the state by the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration.
It was learnt that the state lawmakers has summoned the State Accountant-General and members of the Joint Account Allocations Committee over alleged diversion of councils’ allocations, Daily Trust reports.
SaharaReporters had reported that the Ijebu East Local Government chairman, Wale Adedayo on Sunday in a letter addressed to a former governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, accused Governor Abiodun accused of withholding more than N17 billion statutory Federal Allocation due to the state’s Local Governments in the last two years.
Adedayo in the letter noted that there had been zero federal allocation to each local government area in the state since they got on board in 2021, and therefore asked Osoba to urgently wade in, and convince Abiodun to allow the statutory federal allocation to local governments in Ogun State to reach each of them as envisaged by the 1999 Constitution.
On Thursday, seven councillors of the local government led by their leader, Fasheyi Adesuji, from Itele Ward 7, amid tight security suspended the embattled council boss for three months over what it described as “maladministration and financial mismanagement”.
This was after SaharaReporters earlier reported that Adedayo raised an alarm that Governor Abiodun was organising a kangaroo impeachment process in the local government against him and that the governor had also instructed the Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in the state, Akibu Efele, and some members of the Black Axe confraternity based in Ijebu Ode to punish him.
The lawmakers had listed about 15 financial infractions against the LG boss including using N8.2m to procure 20 tables and chairs for the primary schools as well as misappropriation of N35m among others.
Meanwhile, the invitation was made by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, at a plenary in Abeokuta on Thursday.
He stated that the invitation was for a detailed explanation to the House on what was going on at the local governments so that the people of the state may be properly informed.
He stated that the meeting will allow the House of Assembly to learn what was going on and then take appropriate measures.
Oluomo was quoted by Daily Trust saying, “We have the power to investigate what’s happening in our state and then do the needful.
“But I want to appeal to those that are concerned to please maintain law, peace and order in our various places particularly in Ijebu East local government where I heard that protests are going on.
“Everyone should calm down and allow us to do our job. I hereby invite the accountant- general of the state and all members of the joint account allocations committee to appear before the house on Friday by 1pm.
“They are to come and explain to the House what exactly is happening so that the people of the state shall be fully briefed,” he added.