News
Jigawa Assembly suspends LG chairmen over N942.03M
By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The house committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy affairs of the Jigawa State House of Assembly has uncovered financial misappropriation of over N942,033,814 by four local councils’ chairmen
This was contained in a committee’s report presented on the floor of the House during plenary session presided over by the speaker of the house, Rt. Honourable Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin.
Presenting the report to the house the committee chairman, honourable Aminu Zakari said the discovery was made during the committee’s oversight function carried out in the 27 local government areas of the state.
The House unanimously approved the suspension of the four local government council chairmen and directed the vice chairmen of the affected local councils to take over the mantle of leadership till further notice.
The committee chairman, honourable Aminu Zakari listed the affected local government council chairmen to include Alhaji Muhammad Sani, Dutse Honourable Bala Usman Chamo, Gumel, Honourable Ahmed Rufa’i and Ringim Alhaji Shehu Sule Udi for alleged financial misconduct and administration in their respective local government councils.
According to the report the chairman of Auyo local government council, Alhaji Sani was accused of making 54 payments of over N158.3 million without vouchers, 29 illegal payments to the tune of N54.3 million, 54 payment of over N66.8 million without vouchers among other allegations.
While honourable Chamo of Dutse local government council was suspended over alleged illegal transaction to the tune of N240,001,082 which contained 70 irregular payments amounting to over N126.4 million, over N30.6 million payment 19 times without proper procedure and approval.
Explaining further, he said, 42 payment vouchers amounting to N82.8 million had no supporting documents such as house approval, LPO, Bill of quantity etc.
The Gumel local government chairman, honourable Rufa’i was accused of missppropruating over N543.6 million, part of which is over N400 million ecological fund diverted to overhead cost and 22 different payments to the tune of over N143.6 million to individuals.
But the case of the suspended Ringim local government chairman, Honourable Udi is more of administrative lapses with some financial malpractices such as illegal auctions of local government properties, shortchanging local government finances on internally revenue generations.
Honourable Zakari submitted the recommendation for the committee to the house as follows “That these honourable house should consider the indefinite suspension of local council chairmen of Auyo, Dutse, Gumel and Ringim for suspicious allegation of misconduct, negligence of duties and inducious spending of public funds without justification in line with provision of section 9 of local government law principal cap 18 law of JIgawa state 2012 as well as financial memorandum”. The vice chairmen of the affected local government should take over the local government council till after investigation. The house should continue with further investigation on the matter”.
Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Professor Tom Adaba, has passed away at the age of 84.
According to reports, he died peacefully on Saturday in Abuja.
Chief Adinoyi Joe Anivasa, Secretary of the Egbira Elders Forum, confirmed the news, stating, “I feel sad to inform you that our elder and leader, Prof. Tom A. Adaba, has answered the call of nature this morning. Further details about his burial arrangements will be communicated later.”
Born on July 2, 1941, Prof. Adaba made significant contributions to Nigeria’s broadcasting industry. Between 1988 and 1992, he became the first Nigerian to serve as President of the African Council for Communication Education.
Despite calls for suspension from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigeria Police Force, the Osun State local government election proceeded as scheduled on Saturday.
Governor Ademola Adeleke voted in Ede North Local Government Area, describing the process as peaceful and urging residents to exercise their franchise.
The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, cited a Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstating sacked local government chairmen, while the police warned of potential security threats.
However, the Osun State government insisted on holding the election, emphasizing its commitment to obeying a court directive. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the polls.
Voting took place under tight security, with minimal commercial activity observed in Osogbo, the state capital.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa, has indicated that Firmer President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence at the public presentation of former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, The Journey of Service, held in Abuja on Thursday was not surprising.
Speaking to journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa suggested that Buhari’s no-show was a result of unresolved bitterness over the 1985 coup, in which Babangida overthrew him and subsequently detained him.
According to Vatsa, Buhari may still harbor resentment, especially over being denied the chance to bid his late mother farewell while in detention.
“It Would Have Been the 9th Wonder of the World If Buhari Had Attended”
Vatsa claimed that Buhari’s absence was expected, given the deep-seated history between the two former leaders.
“The memory of the ‘mother of all betrayals’ has not left him. It would have been the ninth wonder of the world if Buhari had attended that book launch,” he said.
The APC chieftain also linked Buhari’s perceived neglect of Niger State during his eight-year presidency to his history with Babangida.
“The whole world knows that Niger State was made a scapegoat by Buhari because of IBB. For eight years, he did not pay any serious official visit to the state, and not a single federal project was executed here. The Baro Port project was abandoned, and federal roads across the state were left in disrepair,” Vatsa alleged.
He claimed that despite the overwhelming votes Buhari received from Niger State in 2015 and 2019, the state was sidelined due to the personal history between the former presidents.
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Niger State paid for the sin of one man,” he lamented.
When asked for his opinion on the contents of IBB’s autobiography, Vatsa said he would reserve his comments until he has read and digested the book fully.
“There are certain things I expected to see in the book. Once I am done reading, I will invite you all for my comments,” he stated.
The book launch attracted several high-profile attendees, including President Bola Tinubu, former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Yakubu Gowon, as well as former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Other dignitaries included former Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo, former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, and ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo, and Namadi Sambo, alongside traditional rulers and state governors.
Buhari’s absence, however, remained a major talking point, reinforcing speculations that the 1985 coup remains a sore point in Nigeria’s political history.
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