Crime

LG Chairman Impeached Over ₦1.7bn Budget Padding

Published by Tope Fakinlede on July 18th, 2024.

LG Chairman Impeached Over ₦1.7bn Budget Padding

The Legislative arm of Egor Local Government Area in Edo State has impeached Chairman Hon. Eghe Ogbemudia over allegations of budget padding and corruption.

The impeachment followed a vote of no confidence during a council legislative session on Tuesday, led by Leader of the House and Councillor for Ward 3, Godwin Uwadiae Edigin.

Following the legislative roll call, Councillor Stella Ogida of Ward 2 initiated the motion for a no-confidence vote against Ogbemudia, citing severe misconduct.

“It’s been ten months since our inauguration, and the Councillors of Egor Legislative Arm still lack offices. We have discovered the padding of the council’s supplementary budget by ₦1.7 billion. The Chairman excluded the councillors from the preparation and approval of the council’s supplementary budget. Based on these actions and numerous other misconducts, I move for a vote of no confidence,” Ogida stated.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Elliot Inneh of Ward 9, who added, “Attempts to reach the Chairman have been futile. We reviewed a budget proposal amounting to ₦6.054bn, which passed through this chamber. Shockingly, the Chairman, in collusion with the former Leader of the House, secretly increased the budget to ₦7.896bn.”

A voice vote was called, and the majority of councillors supported the motion, leading to Ogbemudia’s impeachment.