The Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government Area in Ogun State, Wale Adedayo, has been suspended for a period of three months by a quorum of councilors.
The suspension comes as a response to allegations of maladministration and financial mismanagement against him.
Adedayo confirmed the situation and mentioned that the local government secretariat was raided by both policemen and thugs on Thursday morning.
“It might be true. Policemen bombarded the office along with thugs this morning,” he said.
Allegedly, this action was linked to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, who was reportedly considering impeaching Adedayo. Adedayo had previously accused the governor of withholding federal government allocations that were designated for local government areas 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), collectively conveyed that the legislative council of the LGA had received several allegations warranting investigation.
They have instructed Adedayo to appear before the council during its upcoming session on Thursday, September 14, 2023. A resolution letter signed by these seven councilors outlined 15 allegations against the suspended chairman.
Excerpts from the resolution letter containing the allegations read, “Withdrawal of N4 million from LG account for empowerment in 2022, which never took place. Wastage of N2 million on Iṣẹṣe Day on August 20, 2022. Duty tour allowance of N260,000 for the chairman and other top functionaries in June 2023.
ALSO READ: See Why FG Has Suspended Buhari’s Airport Concessions, Nigeria Air Project
“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 the 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.”
