A sufficient number of councilors in the Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State have imposed a three-month suspension on the LGA Chairman, Wale Adedayo, due to accusations of maladministration and financial misconduct.
In response to this development, Adedayo conveyed to our correspondent that the information could potentially be accurate. He further mentioned that law enforcement officers, accompanied by a group of individuals, reportedly besieged the LGA secretariat on Thursday morning.
“It might be true. Policemen bombarded the office along with thugs this morning,” Adedayo said in a tacit WhatsApp message following an inquiry by our correspondent.
Allegedly, this action ensued after over a hundred mobile policemen reportedly stormed the LGA’s secretariat on Thursday morning, following purported efforts by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to remove Adedayo from office. Adedayo had recently accused the governor of withholding federal government allocations intended for LGAs in the state.
Seven councilors, 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, disclosed on Thursday that the LGA’s legislative council had received various allegations warranting investigation. They directed Adedayo to appear before the council during its upcoming session on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
In an exclusive resolution letter obtained by our correspondent and signed by the seven councilors, including the house leader, Fasheyi Adesuji of Itele Ward 7, a total of fifteen allegations were raised against the suspended chairman.
They include, alleged “Withdrawal of N4million from LG account for empowerment in 2022, which never took place. Wastage of N2million 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.”
Following the listed allegations, 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″.
According to report, Mr. Adedayo lodged complaints against Abiodun with both the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission. He demanded an investigation into the governor’s alleged mishandling of local government funds.
Adedayo accused Abiodun of retaining the mandated Federal Allocation meant for the state’s local governments over the past two years. The council leader asserted that the governor has not disbursed any portion of the Federal allocation to the local government accounts during this period.
In distinct petitions submitted to the EFCC and ICPC on Tuesday, Adedayo urgently implored the anti-graft agencies to intervene. He also alleged that the governor has denied the local government chairmen their due share of the Ecological Fund and other entitlements, as per a copy of the petition available to our correspondent.
