Ogun LG boss suspended for ‘gross misconduct’

Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta

The Chairman of Imeko Afon local government council of Ogun State, Isiaka Wale Aderounmu was today suspended from office over an alleged mismanagement of the council fund.

According to the suspension letter signed by all 12 Councillors of the council, a copy of which was obtained Thursday evening by our correspondent in Abeokuta, the Chairman was suspended until further notice.

The letter which was addressed to the Chairman through the Clerk of the House contained 13 allegations, which the lawmakers said were impeachable offences.

The letter which was copied to all security agents in the local government and to the three banks which hold the account of the local government, alleged that the Chairman failed to remit a sum of N5 million naira to the Council purse being the revenue generated through hiring of the Council bulldozer.

The LG boss was also accused of leasing local government properties and asset to his cronies without following due process and failed to appear before the House on five occasions when he was invited.

The legislators also accused the Chairman of running the affairs of the local government like a personal business enterprises, adding that, the Chairman failed to carry the legislative arm along on the monthly income and expenditures of the council.

The suspension letter reads, “In consonance with Ogun State Local Government Law, 2002, section 37 (2), the under listed legislators notify your office (Hon) Isiaka Wale Aderohunmu, Chairman Ipokia Local Government is hereby suspended till further notice for gross misconduct.

“Leasing out Local Government properties and assets without following due process and laid down procedure, e.g. Collection of One Million naira from his cronies for 10 years on 2,600 stand of palm trees on Idosemo plantation.

“Hiring out of the local government bulldozer that is originally meant for the benefit of people of the local government to a private firm in Ogbere, Ijebu East Local Government without due process. Hiring out of the bulldozer from January 2014 to March 2014 to the turn over (sics) Five Million Naira and failure to remit same to the Local Government account”, the statement read.

When our correspondent contacted the council Chairman via telephone to comment on his suspension, Aderounmu claimed ignorance of the suspension notice, adding that, the lawmakers how to get the statement of the account of the council.

“My dear brother, as I speak with you, I am in my office with a whole lot of Council Directors, I have not receive any letter to that effect. I am the Executive Chairman of the local government, I supervise the account of the local government, but I am not a signatory to the account. If they need the council statement of account, they should go to the treasurer who is the signatory to the council account” he explained.