N46M FRAUD: OSHIOMHOLE`S LGA CHAIRMAN REMOVED, VICE CHAIRMAN SWORN-IN.
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has sworn-in Alhaji
Imonofi Osumah Inusa as the Chairman of Etsako West Local Government,
after Hon. Yakubu Musa, the erstwhile chairman was removed over his
involvement in a N46 million fraud in the council.
Obaseki, while swearing-in Alhaji Osumah at Government House, in Benin
City, said investigations by a panel constituted by the state
government revealed that the former LG boss, Musa, was engaged in
fraudulent activities and lacked ability to supervise the staff of the
Council.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole, hails from Etsako West LGA.
It will be recalled that three council Chairmen were before now removed as a result of one allegation or the other.
Meanwhile, some persons are begining to wonder why in spite of the fact that, the council Chairman of Esan North East local government area, Hon. Augustine Okoibhole and his management team has been severally accused of fraudulent practices, and even been officially reported to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, he is being treated as a sacred cow by Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Edo state governor.
However, Governor Obaseki maintained that his administration has zero-tolerance
for corruption and negligence of duty, noting that no matter the
developmental efforts by the state government, the local government
must perform their duties before the state can be highly rated in
terms of development.
“With the permission and authorisation of the Edo State House of
Assembly (EDHA), we dropped Yakubu Musa for engaging in corrupt
activities. He was dropped based on the investigation conducted
following reports and observations at the monthly Joint Account
Allocation Committee (JAAC) meetings I preside over.”
Obaseki said that through the monthly JAAC meetings, he discovered
that Musa bloated the council’s wage bill to the extent that his LGA’s
bill was in excess of that of Oredo Local Government Area, which has
the largest workforce.
He said the investigation showed that the former chairman was
negligent in his duties and couldn’t account properly for the
council’s funds.
“Local councils in urban areas have common traits. They are heavily
indebted, have huge salary arrears and the level of accountability is
very poor. I charge you to ensure you do better and guard against
corrupt acts. We have zero-tolerance for corruption,” he said.
He continued: "We have several reforms we need to implement as an
administration. We will introduce the Contributory Pension Scheme for
Local Government early next year. We have resolved the pension crisis
in the state and will do same for the local governments.
Accountability in local governments is our priority. Excuses will not
be entertained as you will be held liable for whatever happens in your
local government.”
The new chairman, Alhaji Osumah, thanked the governor for the
opportunity to serve and pledged loyalty and commitment to work with
the governor in developing the council area.
Recall that a panel of inquiry was on the 16th September, 2019,
constituted by the Edo state Government to investigate the alleged
diversion of funds in Etsako West Local Government Council, after the
case was discovered at the JAAC meetings.
The panel was headed by S.E Omorodion with other members including Mr.
B.S. Kadiri. Isaac Sanu, Mr. F. Ediagbonya, a Permanent Secretary at
the Ministry of Local Government and Mr. S.O Obakpolor, who served as
the panel secretary.
They was charged with the responsibility of examining the
circumstances surrounding the alleged diversion of funds in respect of
monthly payment of salaries in Etsako West Local Council between July
2018 to May 2019, examine the level of involvement of officials of the
Local Government Council and apportion blame to erring officials.
The panel’s findings revealed that over N46m was paid to two ghost
workers by a staff employed by the erstwhile Chairman of Etsako West
Local Government Council, Alhaji Yakubu. O. Musa.
The indicted staff, Mr. Saliu Abdullahi Sule, a Works attendant, Grade
Level (GL) 3 in Etsako West Local Council, was deployed to the
department of Finance and Treasury as a computer operator and was
assigned the duty of preparing and submitting the monthly salary
update for the council by the chairman and heads of his
administration. He inserted two ghost workers, namely Sule Fatima and
Aliyu Yusuf, placing them on Grade Level fourteen each.
According to the panel, after a period of 11 months and two weeks,
Danjuma paid the ghost workers a total sum of N46, 899, 540.27, with
the money transferred to his UBA account monthly.
The panel, however, recommended that Musa be “removed from office on
grounds of negligence of duty, improper accounting and auditing of the
council’s finances, lack of adequate supervision of staff and for
allowing fraud under his nose.”
It also advised that Saliu Abdullahi Danjuma be dismissed from the
service on grounds of fraudulent practices. In addition, it was
recommended that he should be made to refund all illegally earned
monies and thereafter, handed over to the police for prosecution,
alongside the ghost workers.
They further urged the State Government to take appropriate steps to
fish out all the ghost workers.
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has sworn-in Alhaji
Imonofi Osumah Inusa as the Chairman of Etsako West Local Government,
after Hon. Yakubu Musa, the erstwhile chairman was removed over his
involvement in a N46 million fraud in the council.
Obaseki, while swearing-in Alhaji Osumah at Government House, in Benin
City, said investigations by a panel constituted by the state
government revealed that the former LG boss, Musa, was engaged in
fraudulent activities and lacked ability to supervise the staff of the
Council.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade
Adams Oshiomhole, hails from Etsako West LGA.
It will be recalled that three council Chairmen were before now removed as a result of one allegation or the other.
Meanwhile, some persons are begining to wonder why in spite of the fact that, the council Chairman of Esan North East local government area, Hon. Augustine Okoibhole and his management team has been severally accused of fraudulent practices, and even been officially reported to the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, he is being treated as a sacred cow by Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Edo state governor.
However, Governor Obaseki maintained that his administration has zero-tolerance
for corruption and negligence of duty, noting that no matter the
developmental efforts by the state government, the local government
must perform their duties before the state can be highly rated in
terms of development.
“With the permission and authorisation of the Edo State House of
Assembly (EDHA), we dropped Yakubu Musa for engaging in corrupt
activities. He was dropped based on the investigation conducted
following reports and observations at the monthly Joint Account
Allocation Committee (JAAC) meetings I preside over.”
Obaseki said that through the monthly JAAC meetings, he discovered
that Musa bloated the council’s wage bill to the extent that his LGA’s
bill was in excess of that of Oredo Local Government Area, which has
the largest workforce.
He said the investigation showed that the former chairman was
negligent in his duties and couldn’t account properly for the
council’s funds.
“Local councils in urban areas have common traits. They are heavily
indebted, have huge salary arrears and the level of accountability is
very poor. I charge you to ensure you do better and guard against
corrupt acts. We have zero-tolerance for corruption,” he said.
He continued: "We have several reforms we need to implement as an
administration. We will introduce the Contributory Pension Scheme for
Local Government early next year. We have resolved the pension crisis
in the state and will do same for the local governments.
Accountability in local governments is our priority. Excuses will not
be entertained as you will be held liable for whatever happens in your
local government.”
The new chairman, Alhaji Osumah, thanked the governor for the
opportunity to serve and pledged loyalty and commitment to work with
the governor in developing the council area.
Recall that a panel of inquiry was on the 16th September, 2019,
constituted by the Edo state Government to investigate the alleged
diversion of funds in Etsako West Local Government Council, after the
case was discovered at the JAAC meetings.
The panel was headed by S.E Omorodion with other members including Mr.
B.S. Kadiri. Isaac Sanu, Mr. F. Ediagbonya, a Permanent Secretary at
the Ministry of Local Government and Mr. S.O Obakpolor, who served as
the panel secretary.
They was charged with the responsibility of examining the
circumstances surrounding the alleged diversion of funds in respect of
monthly payment of salaries in Etsako West Local Council between July
2018 to May 2019, examine the level of involvement of officials of the
Local Government Council and apportion blame to erring officials.
The panel’s findings revealed that over N46m was paid to two ghost
workers by a staff employed by the erstwhile Chairman of Etsako West
Local Government Council, Alhaji Yakubu. O. Musa.
The indicted staff, Mr. Saliu Abdullahi Sule, a Works attendant, Grade
Level (GL) 3 in Etsako West Local Council, was deployed to the
department of Finance and Treasury as a computer operator and was
assigned the duty of preparing and submitting the monthly salary
update for the council by the chairman and heads of his
administration. He inserted two ghost workers, namely Sule Fatima and
Aliyu Yusuf, placing them on Grade Level fourteen each.
According to the panel, after a period of 11 months and two weeks,
Danjuma paid the ghost workers a total sum of N46, 899, 540.27, with
the money transferred to his UBA account monthly.
The panel, however, recommended that Musa be “removed from office on
grounds of negligence of duty, improper accounting and auditing of the
council’s finances, lack of adequate supervision of staff and for
allowing fraud under his nose.”
It also advised that Saliu Abdullahi Danjuma be dismissed from the
service on grounds of fraudulent practices. In addition, it was
recommended that he should be made to refund all illegally earned
monies and thereafter, handed over to the police for prosecution,
alongside the ghost workers.
They further urged the State Government to take appropriate steps to
fish out all the ghost workers.
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