By OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
In Edo State, two local government chairmen in Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon areas have been impeached as political crisis escalates in the state.
This is just as the chairman of Owan East Local Government Area, Aminu Okodo-Kadiri, has vehemently stated that his “purported impeachment” and that of his deputy, Clement Ojebuovbo, were both “unconstitutional and illegal.”
In Uhunmwonde LG, crisis erupted as gunmen on Thursday allegedly attacked bystanders, leaving several people injured.
Kenneth Adodo, the chairman of the council, claimed that the gunmen were policemen from the Government House.
In Orhionmwon, the councillors impeached House Leader, Daniel Osariemen, and replaced him with Chuks Isan, after learning that Osariemen was allegedly mobilising efforts to impeach the chairman, Newman Ugiagbe, and his deputy, Midwest Ogbebor.
Osariemen, who had reportedly led a group to seize the council’s secretariat in Abudu and assumed the role of acting chairman, was accused of illegal actions.
However, Ugiagbe, through his Press Secretary, Roy Osariemen, denied the accusations, stating that Ugiagbe remained the duly elected chairman of the local government.
“The action that took place in the secretariat in Abudu is illegal, and Ugiagbe remains the duly elected chairman,” he stated.
Okodo-Kadiri, speaking to journalists in Benin, expressed his dissatisfaction with the impeachment processes, claiming they were fraught with irregularities that violated the law.
He cited the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000, as amended in 2002, which outlines specific procedures for the removal of council executives.
“The impeachment processes violated the law. None of the stipulated processes were followed, such as presenting allegations signed by two-thirds of councillors, setting up an independent investigative panel, and adhering to timelines during the proceedings,” Okodo-Kadiri explained.
The embattled chairman also pointed out that the councillors had failed to establish the required seven-member investigative panel, and he was not given the opportunity to defend himself.
He further argued that the mace used during the impeachment was not the official mace of the Owan East Local Government Council, which he said invalidated the process.
Refuting allegations of financial mismanagement, particularly the claim of N50 million being misused for salary payments, Okodo-Kadiri declared, “This suspension and impeachment are baseless and unconstitutional. I will rely on the judiciary to restore justice and uphold the rule of law in this matter.”
He continued, “There is an allegation that council chairmen embezzled N50 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 claims.”
He added, “If funds were misappropriated, where is the proof? Our bank records are clear, and no salaries are owed. Furthermore, the impeachment process involved two key councillors, Haruna Mohammed and another member from Ward Seven, who had been suspended for gross misconduct before the session.
“Their participation in the process rendered it invalid, and my office was never notified of their reinstatement as required by due process.”
Okodo-Kadiri vowed to seek justice through the judiciary to overturn what he described as an illegal and politically motivatd impeachment.
