By Alltimepost.com Correspondent
Benin City, Nigeria – Embattled 18 Edo Local Government Council Chairmen in a year and three months remitted over N12 billion to leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, alleged on Tuesday.
Governor Okpebholo made the allegation while playing host to the acting Chairmen and Councilors of the 18 Local Government Areas, who were in Government House on a courtesy visit
He commended the acting Chairmen and the Councillors for their courageous act in upholding democracy and ensuring transparency at the Local Government level, stressing that Local Government funds do not belong to any individual, irrespective of statuses.
Okpebholo narrated: “When I came into the office, I had a meeting with the Accountant-General, and he showed me some books. Some of these spending had no explanation.
“I picked interest in some of the spending because I saw an item which was tagged “Environmental security funding.
“I have never heard of that before, and the amount involved was huge, N800 million every month. These Chairmen were contributing this money and gave it to leaders of a party.”
The Governor said that the alleged discovery led to a meeting with the former Chairmen who were asked to explain the money allocated to Environmental Security funding, but they could not.
“I invited the Chairmen but could not meet with them, but my Deputy met with them. He asked them to explain certain spending, but none could explain.
“He asked them to provide their books, and they agreed and said they would in 24 hours, but the Deputy said no, Iet it be in 48 hours.
“But these Chairmen didn’t obey the instructions in two weeks as none of them submitted their books.
“Following the development, I sent a letter to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to look into their records.
“As a former parliamentarian, I know there is a body that has a function over them, so I sent a letter to Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) and they were invited and they refused to come and they were suspended for two months”, Okpebholo added.
He further alleged that suspended/impeached Chairmen were engaged in wasteful spending “even when our schools did not have teachers. When you get to primary schools, you find two or three teachers, where you are supposed to have 10 to 12 teachers.
“I want to thank you because the narrative has been changed by you people as what you have done is not out of the law.
“Impeaching somebody who is corrupt, who has used the local funds for his personal gain is not wrong. I recognize you as my Chairmen.
“The only way to drive development to the grassroots is through you. The President also recognized the local government and advised Governors.
“I am ready to work with the Chairmen of various local government Councils. I am ready to work with you to see that various Council areas progress.
“You have the full power as local government chairmen. The local government Commission will cooperate with you to ensure you succeed in your duties to serve the grassroots people.
“The money that belongs to the local government. It does not belong to you but the grassroots. So, go and work with the resources,” Senator Okpebholo advised.
Chairman Local Government Commission, Hon. Damian Lawani who led the acting local government Chairmen on the courtesy visit, assured the Governor that the Chairmen are ready to work closely with the administration and ensure the people at the grassroots enjoy the dividends of democracy.
Lawani said: “The Chairmen working at the grassroots level are in full support of your development strive in the State and are ready to collaborate with you to ensure the people at the grassroots enjoy good governance.”
The acting Chairmen of Uhunmwonde, Hon. Iredia Benjamin Osas; Esan West Hon. Godsent Agboibo; and Owan West, Hon. Joy Ohonyon, pledged their loyalty to the state government.
They assured Opkebholo and the people of the State that they will collaborate and support the current administration in Edo to succeed and deliver the dividends of democracy to the people, especially those at the grassroots.
It would be recalled that Edo State House of Assembly on December 17, 2024, passed a resolution suspending the eighteen Local Government Council Chairmen for two months, following a letter from the governor accusing them of gross misconduct and insubordination – failure to open their books for scrutiny or submit their financial reports from September 23, 2022, to date, as directed.
Mixed Reactions have since greeted the decision from various quarters, with some in support, and opposed to the decision. Opposing voices described it as anti-democratic as it negated the July 11, 2024, Supreme Court ruling granting financial autonomy to all local government councils in Nigeria.
Reacting to the suspension, the Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), called on the 18 local government council chairmen and vice chairmen to ignore their suspension and go back to work.
Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, the PDP Chairman in Edo who made the call in Benin maintained that neither Governor Monday Okpebholo nor the State House of Assembly has the power to suspend council chairmen and their vice chairmen
“Prior to this illegal suspension, the state Chief Judge, Daniel Okungbowa, has told the assembly that they lack the powers to unilateral tamper with the affairs of elected local government council following the financial autonomy granted the local governments by the recent Supreme Court ruling.
“What the assembly did today cannot stand because of the Apex Court ruling granting financial autonomy to elected local government councils in the country.
“We therefore, called on the Federal Government to obey the latest judgement which it sponsored, by seizing allocations meant for the 18 local government councils as the Supreme Court said until the Chairmen and Vice Chairmen return back to their seats,” Aziegbemi posited.
The LGA officials rejected their purported suspension, even as they vowed to remain in office till the expiration of their tenure in 2026.
Also, in his reactions, Nigeria’s Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), declared the action as illegal and unconstitutional.
The AGF, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Thursday December 19, 2024 stressed that removing from office or suspending any elected LG official in the country is the prerogative of Councilors in the said LGA.
According to a report by Vanguard News, the Justice Minister said his position was based on the July 11 judgment of the Supreme Court that granted autonomy to the 774 LGAs in the country.
“One thing that I know and can say without fear is that under the present dispensation, no Governor has the right to remove any local government chairman.
“That much I know. If I did not know before, since July 11, 2024, I became aware that removal of any local government chairman or official would be the prerogative of that local government, through their legislative house,” the AGF stated.
EFCC INVITES SUSPENDED CHAIRMEN
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summoned the suspended chairmen of 18 local governments in Edo State for questioning, shortly after the state House of Assembly suspended them for alleged misconduct and insubordination.
In a letter dated December 17, 2024, Abdulkarim Chukkol, Director of Investigation at the EFCC, notified the Secretary to the State Government about the invitations.
The letter, addressed to the state government, directs the chairmen of Akoko-Edo, Egor, Esan Central, Esan North East, Esan South East, and Esan West Local Government Areas to report to the EFCC on Thursday, December 19, 2024. Other chairmen, including those from Etsako Central, Etsako East, and Etsako West, are also scheduled to appear on the same day.
Others include the chairmen, from Igueben, Ikpoba Okha, Orhionmwon, Ovia North East, Ovia South West, Owan East, Owan West, and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas, are expected to appear the following day, Friday, December 20, 2024.
The EFCC requested that the chairmen bring comprehensive documents, including certified true copies of staff strength and payroll details. They are also required to provide information about the accounts used for staff salary payments, along with statements of those accounts from January 1, 2024, to the present.
This summons followed the suspension of the local government chairmen by the Edo State House of Assembly on December 17, 2024, which also included the vice chairmen. The suspension was prompted by their failure to submit financial statements as directed by Governor Monday Okpebholo.
The EFCC’s investigation, pursuant to Section 38(1) and (2) of the EFCC (Establishment) Act, 2004, aims to ensure greater transparency and accountability in the management of public funds at the local government level, the letter said.
FAST-PACED DEVELOMENTS
New developments have been unfolding daily since the beginning of the local government crisis, with a flurry of impeachments in the affected various local government councils in Edo State.
Governor Okpebholo’s media outing today represents a new development in the local governments’ saga, with alleged orchestrated impeachment and introduction of political brigandage, which many have seen as a grave assault on democracy.
Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon Council Chairmen, Hon. Kenneth Adodo, Hon Newman Ugiagbe and their Vice Chairmen, were on Thursday last week impeached by members of the legislative Arm of their respective councils over alleged misconducts.
It was gathered that the development in Uhunmwonde led to the injuries of several persons as gunmen allegedly attacked bystanders during the impeachment process.
Reacting to the development, the Uhunmwonde Local Government Council Chairman, Adodo alleged that the people that came to shoot were policemen from government house.
In Orhionmwon Local Government Council, it was learned that the Councilors in the Council last Wednesday impeached the Leader of the house, Hon Daniel Osariemen.
They were alleged to have subsequently replaced him with Hon Chuks Isan as they got wind that Osariemen was allegedly being mobilized to impeach the chairman, Hon Newman Ugiagbe and his Vice, Midwest Ogbebor.
Osariemen was alleged to have led unknown persons to take over the secretariat of the council in Abudu where he purportedly resumed as the Acting Chairman of the local government area.
But Hon. Newman Ugiagbe in a statement by his Press Secretary, Roy Osariemen, said the action in Abudu was illegal and that Ugiagbe remained the Chairman of the local government area.
Earlier last week, Owan East Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadiri, was impeached by councilors in the council over alleged gross misconduct.
Also added to the list of impeached, are Etsako West Local Government Council Chairman Mr. Marvelous Momoh and his Vice, according to report by the Midwest Herald.
They were allegedly removed from office following petitions on dereliction of duty and financial fraud leveled against them by the councilors. According to the councilors, the Chairman and his Vice failed to defend the allegations, despite their invitation.
In another development, The Chairman of Ovia North East Local Government Council, Mr. Collins Ogbewi and his Vice, Ms. Efosa Uyigue were impeached today, January 7, 2025.
They were both impeached for negligence and abandonment of duty as well as huge financial misappropriation, according to a report by Midwest Herald.
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