…Urges Assembly to hold public hearing on alleged diversions
Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
Governor AbdulRahman AbdukRazaq of Kwara State has urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe reported diversion of funds at the16 local government areas of the state.
Also, the governor has asked the House of Assembly to hold public hearings on the alleged diverted funds in the council areas.
The anti-graft agency, the governor said, should investigate independently, total funds so far received and disbursed to the 16 Local Government Areas between May 2019 and now.
A panel of inquiry comprising members from various backgrounds would also be set up to look into the Local Council funds, according to a statement by the Governor’s spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye.
“For the sake of accountability and transparency, the Governor is hereby calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct urgent probe into funds so far received as allocations and spent by the 16 Local Governments between May 29 and now.
“Separately, the Governor will also be setting up a Panel of inquiry in the immediate, to look into the same issues. Members of the panel and its terms of reference would be announced soon.
“This probe is borne out of the fact that this administration has not touched a kobo of money belonging to the Local Governments. It has nothing to hide.
“But for abundance of caution, the Governor will be tasking not just the EFCC but also a panel of inquiry with members drawn from various backgrounds to investigate the LG funds, how they have been spent, and expose any mismanagement or diversion of the funds (if any).
“The call becomes necessary in view of the outrageous claims by some persons that money to the tune of N300m was diverted monthly from LG accounts, Ajakaiye explained, adding that, “This administration feels this deserves to be probed and laid to rest because governance is about public trust.
“Similarly, His Excellency appeals to the House of Assembly — which comprises the elected representatives of the people with oversight powers — to hold a public hearing on the said matter.
READ ALSO: https://www.thexpressng.com/2020/07/15/gokada-ceo-fahim-saleh-murdered/
Governor AbdulRazaq reiterated that he would not be found mismanaging or siphoning public and maintained that going by his days in the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Local Governments should be allowed to manage their own funds with minimal or no supervision by the State as the law may allows
He warned that any official found to have diverted or mismanaged public funds under him would be made to account for same as prescribed under the law.
