Benin City Two chairmen in Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon local government areas were reportedly impeached by their elected council members on Tuesday, adding to the instability in Edo state local government areas. Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadirihas, their counterpart from Owan East, claimed that both his and his vice president, Hon. Clement Ojebuovbo, were unlawfully and unconstitutionally impeached.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
According to reports, gunmen attacked onlookers in Uhunmwonde, hurting numerous persons in the process. Kenneth Adodo, the council’s chairman, said that the shooters were government house police officers. On Wednesday, Orhionmwon’s council members removed the leader of the house, Hon. Daniel Osariemen, and installed Hon. Chuks Isan in his stead after learning that Osariemen was being urged to remove the chairman, Hon. Newman Ugiagbe, and his vice, Hon. Midwest Ogbebor.
It was claimed that Osariemen, the allegedly suspended leader, led unidentified individuals to seize control of the council secretariat in Abudu, where he allegedly returned to his position as the Acting Chairman of the local government area. However, in a statement issued by his press secretary, Roy Osariemen, Ugiagbe claimed that the action in Abudu was unlawful and that he was still the local government area chairman.
Speaking to reporters in Benin City on Thursday, Okodo-Kadiri, the chairman of Owan Owan East, claimed that his alleged impeachment procedures were riddled with anomalies and that they broke the law. He cited the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000, which was revised in 2002 and included precise protocols for dismissing council executives.
In addition, Okodo claimed that despite being denied the chance to defend himself in front of the seven-member investigating panel required by law, the council members had neglected to form one. He argued that the impeachment procedure was unlawful since the mace used was not the Owan East Local Government Council’s official mace.
“The governor claimed that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million intended for salaries, but this allegation is without merit,” he said. Contrary to the governor’s assertions, salaries were paid on time until November, and monthly pay expenditures in the majority of councils significantly surpass ₦50 million. “Where is the evidence that funds were embezzled? There are no unpaid paychecks, and our bank records are clean.
Furthermore, it was discovered that two important council members—Hon. Haruna Mohammed and another Ward Seven member who had been suspended for serious misconduct prior to the session—were implicated in the alleged impeachment. He maintained that the procedures were illegal because the suspended council members participated in them, and he emphasized that his office was never informed of their restoration as required by due process.
However, in order to restore justice and preserve the rule of law, he pledged to pursue justice through the legal system. He said he was confident the courts will reverse the impeachment, which he said was unlawful and driven by politics.CONTINUE FULL READING>>>>>
