A group known as GIDIGBA has accused the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, of allegedly diverting the November and December local government council allocations, totaling N15.6 billion.
The accusation was made by the group’s coordinator, Sunday Idugboe, who issued a statement to the press in Benin City on Tuesday. Idugboe claimed that the funds, which were meant for local government operations, had been paid into the joint account of the Edo State Government and Local Government, but were expended by the state government, leaving local councils in a state of financial stagnation.
Idugboe further alleged that the diversion of the two months’ allocations was at the heart of the recent crisis involving the removal of 18 elected council chairmen and their deputies. He contended that the removals were primarily motivated by an attempt to control local government resources.
According to Idugboe, the council’s monthly allocation should be immediately transferred from the joint account to the individual Local Government Council accounts. However, he claimed that there was no evidence that the funds from the November and December allocations had been transferred, raising concerns of financial mismanagement.
“The GIDIGBA group has reliable information that the receipts for the councils’ November and December allocations were not transmitted, which is a blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s judgment on local government autonomy, delivered on July 11, 2024,” Idugboe stated. He also accused the state government of using the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to harass the council chairmen after failed attempts to impeach them through irregular means.
Idugboe expressed concerns over the perceived injustice, pointing out that it would be implausible for all 18 council chairmen and their deputies to be guilty of the same offense. He also noted that the diversion of funds has led to a lack of approved budgets for the councils, severely hindering the execution of projects and the delivery of essential services to the public.
In response to the allegations, Paul Ohonbamu, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Communication, dismissed the claims as baseless. He stated that there was no truth to the accusations, asserting that Governor Okpebholo has always advocated for fiscal independence for local governments and is committed to transparency and accountability.
Ohonbamu emphasized that the Governor strongly disapproves of the mismanagement of local government resources, aligning with the federal government’s stance on local government autonomy. He highlighted that the Governor’s position on this matter was in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling in July 2024, which reaffirmed the need for financial and administrative independence for local governments.
The controversy surrounding the alleged diversion of funds has sparked widespread concerns about governance and accountability within Edo State, particularly with regards to local government operations.
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