Chairmen of Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon local government areas were reportedly impeached by their elected councilors on Tuesday, continuing Edo State’s trend of impeachment of local government area chairs.
It has been reported that gunmen attacked bystanders in Uhunmwonde, injuring numerous people in the process.
The chairman of the Council, Kenneth Adodo, alleged that policemen from Government House in Benin were present during the impeachment. Councilors in Orhionmwon had on Wednesday impeached the Leader of the House, Daniel Osariemen, and replaced him with Chuks Isan, following claims that Osariemen was being mobilized to impeach the chairman, Hon. Newman Ugiagbe, and his vice, Midwest Ogbebor.
However, the allegedly suspended leader Osariemen allegedly led unidentified individuals to take over the Council secretariat in Abudu, where he reportedly resumed his role as the acting chairman of the local government area. In a statement released by his press secretary, Roy Osariemen, Council Chairman Ugiagbe described the action in Abudu as illegal and that he remained the chairman of the local government area.
Meanwhile, Owan East LG Council Chairman Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadiri, citing the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000 (as amended in 2002), claimed that the councillors had failed to form a seven-member investigative panel as required by law and that he was not given the chance to defend himself before such a panel.
He added that the mace used during the impeachment was not the official mace of the Owan East Local Government Council, thereby invalidating the process.
Okodo-Kadiri said: “The Governor alleged that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million meant for salaries, but this claim lacks merit.
“Monthly salary expenditures far exceed ₦50 million in most councils and salaries were paid promptly up to November, contrary to the governor’s claims.
“If funds were misappropriated, where is the proof? Our bank records are clear, and no salaries are owed.
“Moreso, the purported impeachment revealed that two key councillors were involved in the process — Hon. Haruna Mohammed and another member from Ward Seven who had been suspended for gross misconduct prior to the session.”
He vowed to seek justice through the judiciary to restore justice and uphold the rule of law, even as he expressed confidence in the courts to overturn what he described as illegal and politically-motivated impeachment.
