N250 million scam: Delta Councilors Suspend Council Boss for 3 months

......SSG HEADS PROBE PANEL. PHOTO: DELTA STATE GOVERNOR, DR. EMMANUEL UDUAGHAN.

Asaba Jan 30, (THEWILL) – Councilors in Sapele Local Government Area of Delta State have suspended council boss, Mr. Godwin Atose for 3 months over alleged embezzlement of N250 million belonging to the local government.

In a resolution signed by 15 councilors under the leadership of Mr. Ufuoma Jebrume, the councilors listed the offences of the council chairman as obstruction of plenary session with thugs for more than eleven months as well as preventing the House from seeing the account of the council by not coming forward with the income and expenditure schedule since he assumed office as chairman in June, 2008.

The councilors also accused their boss for threatening to harm members who have stood their ground saying that the purported meeting of four members of the legislative arm in the presence of the chairman and his thugs, which suspended the house leader, Mr. Ufuoma Jebrume and fourteen other members was null and void and did not follow legislative procedure.

The legislative arm while further accusing the chairman of abuse of executive powers and disrespect for the rule of law, gave an order stopping all council transactions pending the audit of misappropriation of N250 million naira expended on repairs of a caterpillar grader.

According to the aggrieved councilors, the 600 metres Ugbeyiyi road in the council area which cost N60 million was inflated while the employment of over 22 persons last year with their appointments back dated to 2007 thereby paying them salary arrears were also some of his offences.

Meanwhile, the state government has waded into the crisis rocking the council by setting up of a 3-man probe committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

When contacted, the council boss, Mr. Atose described his purported three months suspension as frivolous, null and void.