Kogi Assembly suspends Ibaji LGA Chairman over alleged misappropriation of N536.1m

<p>The Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Area William Iko-Ojo has been suspended by the Kogi State House of Assembly over allegations of misappropriation of N536.1 million, security threat, gross misconduct and abuse of office.</p>, <p>The suspension of the Council Chairman was sequel to a petition written to the Assembly by one Barrister Jibril Ojochenemi which was read by the house Majority Leader, Hon. Suleiman Abdulrazaq, member representing Okene Town.</p>, <p>Abdulrazaq said the petition alleged that, the sum of Five hundred and thirty six million, one hundred and thirty seven thousand, sixty four naira and nine kobo N536, 137, 064.9k was spent on over head cost without budget provision by the Chairman.</p>, <p>The Majority Leader said ” Mr speaker sir and my distinguish colleagues, this act of misappropriation was reported in the audited consolidated financial statement of the 21 Local Government Area of Kogi State for the period covering 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021. The house was further urged to look into instances of security breach in high disrespect to the rule of law. Such conduct portrays the Man to be above the law”</p>, <p>Following the petition before the house, the Majority Leader call for the suspension of the embattled Council boss, which was immediately seconded by the Deputy Speaker Enema Paul lawmaker representing Dekina)Okura State Constituency.</p>, <p>The Deputy Speaker in his submission noted that, the allegations against the Local Government Chairman was weighty, adding that he should step outside pending the conclusion of investigation by the House.</p>, <p>In their various contributions, the members representing Ogori Magongo State Constituency Bode Ogunmola, Dekina/Biraidu Hon. Ochidi Usman Shehu, Kogi Koton Karfe, Hon. Aliyu Maikudi, Okene South, Hon. Yusuf Zakari Eneve all threw their weight for the removal Ibaji Council boss.</p>, <p>They stated that, under the watch of the embattled Council boss, crisis broke out in Ibaji which led to the death of a Woman.</p>, <p>”