Abiodun Freezes Accounts Of 57 LGs, LCDAs
*As Assembly Suspends Council Chairmen, Others Over Misappropriation
The new executive governor of Ogun state, Prince Dapo Abiodun has placed an embargo on bank accounts of the 20 Local Governments as well as the 37 Local Council Development Areas of the state.
This is coming just as the State House of Assembly (OGHA) also passed a resolution, suspending from office, all elected council office holders over misappropriation of funds.
OGHA also suspended all the 75 traditional rulers appointed and promoted by the former governor, Ibikunle Amosun between February and May 28, this year.
It was reliably gathered that the new Ogun governor ordered that the accounts of all the 20 LGs and 37 LCDAs to remain frozen via a directive signed by the Permanent Secretary of the state’s Local Government Service Commission, Dr. Kasali Mobolaji Olabimtan.
Our Correspondent further gathered that the directive ordered there should not be any cash payments or attempt by any Head of the Local Government Administration (HOLGA) or any other council official to backdate cheques.
In a related development however, the state Assembly said the dissolution of the 57 LG and LCDA chairmen was to allowed for proper investigation on allegations of gross misconduct and misappropriation of public fund levelled against them.
OGHA further ordered the council Chairmen and House Leader to hand over the affairs of their respective councils to the HOLGA, while they should appear before it on the 7th of June, 2019.
The Assembly’s resolution reads in part: “All appointment and employment done at the eve of the last administration be reversed including the appointment of unqualified Permanent Secretaries”.
“All financial agreement entered into between February 1st and May 28 without the Assembly’s resolution be reversed, reviewed and looked into by the present administration.