3rd September, 2015
Jethro Ibileke/Benin
The legislative arm of Ovia South-West Local Government Council in Edo State, has suspended the Chairman and Secretary of the Council, Morrison Ogunrobo, and Oyomire Idahosa, respectively.
The council boss and his secretary were placed on suspension on Thursday for two months by the legislators for allegedly diverting N13.7 million revenue money paid to the council as revenue accrual for personal use.
Their suspension followed a recommendation of a committee set up by the legislative arm of the council to investigate a petition against them on financial misappropriation of the Council’s revenue.
A revenue contractor to the local Council, Dan Owegie (jnr) had in the petition to the Councillors alleged that revenue accrued to the council was diverted to personal bank accounts.
Owegie who was contracted to collect revenue at Jojo Rock quarry site at Evbonogbon, had alleged that he was ordered to pay cash to the Council’s Secretary.
The five-man committee which was headed by Godwin Wuoluku, recommended the suspension of the council chairman and his secretary and also asked them to refund the money allegedly diverted to the council coffers.
It was gathered from one of the legislators, Victor Eguavoen, that majority of the councillors voted in support of the recommendation of the committee.
“The suspended Chairman and the Secretary are to refund the money because when they appeared before the Committee, they said they do not have any counter evidence against the petitioners. The petitioners was able to prove their case,” Eguavoen said.
Meanwhile, the Vice Chairman of the Council, Mrs. Omosede Adenomo, has been directed to take over as acting Chairman of the Council.