Lagos Assembly: Ifako Ijaiye Council Chairman removed over misappropriation of N350m
Lagos State House of Assembly has sacked the Executive Chairman of Ifako Ijaiye Local Government, Apostle Oloruntoba Oke, over the misappropriation of N350millon loan collected in 2012 for funding of 5 projects.
The House also called for the redeployment of the Council Treasurer, Council Engineer and Council-Manager.
The sack followed the report on the investigation of allegations levelled against the Council Chairman presented by Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Somolu 1).
The sack followed the report on the investigation of allegations levelled against the Council Chairman presented by Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Somolu 1).
Olowo while presenting the report, stated that the committee toured the projects and discovered that they were yet to be completed.
He added that the Council chairman sought for a soft loan for local government Secretariat and for the construction and rehabilitation of roads.
Olowo explained that Toba was advised by the council-manager not to collect the loan but that he obtained it without the knowledge of the council.
In his contribution, Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe 1) said that some of the local governments
are working against the law, adding that the local governments should do something tangible that would make life meaningful for their people.
He supported the suspension of the culprits so as to serve as a deterrent to others who have it in mind to misappropriate fund allocated for execution of projects.
Also, Hon Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) pointed out that the secretariat for which the loan was collected amongst others was in a bad state.
He faulted the Ministry of Local government and local government service commission for the inability to monitor projects at the local government adding that it was due to negligence of the agencies that the funds were misappropriated.
The Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, in his remarks, commended the six councillors at Ifako/Ijaiye for having the courage to write the petition to the House over the activities of the Chairman, saying that the suspension is predicated on the petition written by the councillors.
The Speaker of the House, Rt (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa, in his ruling, stated that the council Chairman cannot be suspended in isolation as other officials were also indicted in the report.
However, the Vice Chairman of the Local government, Hon. Akambi Usman Hamzat was immediately enjoined to take over affairs of the council.
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