Oshiomhole Suspends LG Chair, to Face Panel

The Chairman of Owan West Local Government Area of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Agbodion, has been suspended over allegations of financial mismanagement and other administrative irregularities.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole announced his suspension, while addressing members of the Local Government Executive Council and Councillors on Wednesday at the Government House, Benin City.

He said, “We have tried, in the past, to call the Chairman to have a good working relationship with his executives. We have decided to set up a committee of Inquiry to investigate these allegations, both financial and non-financial and according to the provisions of the appropriate legislations of the Local Government law, I have decided to exercise the powers vested in me to suspend the Chairman, during this period, for the committee to investigate all the allegations and submit the report to me.

“So, with immediate effect, the Chairman is suspended and a Committee of Inquiry is set up. In line with the rules, the Vice Chairman will act as the Chairman of the Local Government Council.

“I direct the suspended chairman to stay away from the premises of the council. When the committee is ready to sit, you will have ample opportunity to defend yourself against all the allegations.

“For now, we have an issue at hand, subject to the findings of the committee. So I advise you to desist from doing things that will lead to violence or destruction.

“If anybody disrupts the peace of the community, such person will be exposing himself to the full weight of the law”, the governor added.

Meanwhile, the governor has set up a four-man Commission of Inquiry to investigate the allegations against the Chairman.

Performing the inauguration in his office, he said, “We decided to set up this committee based on the provisions of Section 20, sub-section 11 of the Local Government Law as amended 2006.

Oshiomhole said, “We have had series of allegations bordering on administrative incompetence, poor governance, diversion of public funds, non-payment of salaries and breach of procurement procedures against the Chairman of Owan West Local Government Council and these allegations have persisted in spite of my numerous attempts to advise him to review his approach to governance and ensure that he obeys all the rules and regulations and subject himself to the dictates of the law and the norms of governance.

“It is clear from the gale of petitions and complaints that these allegations have not abated and I am convinced that they are sufficiently serious enough to warrant a formal inquiry. I am not in a position to form an opinion on the basis of these allegations. In our law, everyone is deemed innocent until he is found guilty”, he added.

Chief Tom Uloko is Chairman of the panel, while Barrister Mrs. Osagajah would serve as Secretary. Other members are Maj-Gen. Charles Omoregie (rtd) and Barrister Tunji Aroya.

Uloko assured that the Commission would be firm in executring the assignment.