By Adoye Iyalla, Port Harcourt
The Chairman Ahoada East Local Government Council, Cassidy Ikegbidi would know his fate on Tuesday when the Rivers State of Assembly would debate on his suspension as recommended by the Ethics and Privileges Committee that investigated allegations of financial mismanagement.
Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Otelemaba Amachree deferred debate on the report of the House standing committee on Ethics and Privileges which recommended the suspension of the council boss.
The report presented by Chairman of the committee, Hon Nname Ewor at the resumption of second session of the seventh Assembly, noted that the committee discovered monumental financial recklessness and impropriety which include near non- existence of record-keeping in the council’s transactions.
According to him, the committee could not identify any visible project within the council worth the sum of N101, 608,375.20 allegedly spent on capital projects, and therefore considers it extremely dangerous for the corporate existence, image and survival of the council area.
Newsdiaryonline.com learnt that neither the council chairman nor the principal officers of
the council could tender before the committee any payment receipts or vouchers to
cover the total sum of N1,118,999,2000.00 spent on recurrent expenditure within the
periods from the June to December, 2011.
According to him, the committee also recommended that the House, through a resolution, requested the executive governor of the state to exercise the full powers bestowed on him by section 24, subsection 2 of the constitution to dissolve the executive arm of the council.
Hon Ewor, who is also the Deputy Leader of the House, said the committee resisted all pressures, inducements and threats by the key players in carrying out its assignment, including blackmail.
In his motion for adjournment, the leader of the Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd said the presentation of a detailed report on of Ahoada East Local Government chairman by the committee on schedule has vindicated the House and committee members of allegations of attempts to sweep the matter under the carpet.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of Ahoada East Local Government Area, Ikegbidi was alleged to have embezzled millions of naira belonging to the council in a petition by one councilor, Nelson Bright.
The petitioner also alleged that the council boss placed 40 of his relatives and juju members on monthly salary and allowances while his sister a youth corps member was serving as Confidential Secretary on a monthly salary of N1, 000,000.
Meanwhile, the legislative arm of the council has successfully impeached the vice chairman of the council, Hon. Britain Ewor, in spite of a court injunction secured by the embattled vice chairman.
