By Gabriel Enogholase & Simon Ebegbulem

BENIN—The crisis in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State over the alleged diversion of the sum of N13.7million by the chairman of the council Mr. Morrison Ogunrobo-Ovia and the council Secretary, Mr. Oyo Idahosa, has taken a new twist with the legislative arm of the council ordering the duo to refund the money to the council’s treasury with immediate effect.

The legislative arm reached the resolution after its investigation into the petition written to it and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, by Dan Owegie (Jnr.), who had alleged that the duo were diverting internally generated revenue meant for the council into their private use.

The councillors also recommended an immediate suspension of both council officers from office for two months to enable Governor Adams Oshiomhole launch an inquiry into the matter.

Leader of the House, Mr. Cletus Atigbi, who read the resolution by the councilors, directed the elected Vice-Chairman of the council to immediately fill the vacuum created by the suspension of the chairman in tandem with Section 18(7) of the Edo State Local Government Law 2000 as amended.

The legislative arm, which had earlier set up a six man committee headed by Chief Wuluku Godwin to look into the petition, said that it had established the fact the chairman and secretary to the council allegedly defrauded the council to the tune of N17.7million.

It gave the funds diverted to include Jojo Rock Pit – N8,500.000, Ugbogui Plantain market- N2,040,000 and Ugbogui market- N3,040,000.

However, the council chairman, Ogunrobo-Ovia, had said that the suspension was not only illegal but also did not follow due process in line with the Edo State Local Government Law 2000 as amended.

According to him, “Section 19 (9) states that the holder of the office (of chairman) under investigation shall not be suspended within the period of the investigation,” adding that he was still in charge as the elected chief executive office of the council.

Meanwhile, the committee set up by the Legislative arm of the council had its finding discovered that internally generated revenue to the council had been going into private pockets while the petitioner, Owegie (Jnr.), had proved his case beyond all reasonable doubt with the admittance of the council chairman, of receiving the sum of N250million through his private secretary within the period in contention.

It added that the all the agents appointed by the Secretary to the council on the instruction of the chairman as claimed from Ugbogui market and environs have not remitted any revenue to the council since its inception.

….As Edo Assembly mediates crisis

The Edo State House of Assembly, yesterday, waded into the crisis rocking the Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state, following the purported suspension of the chairman, Mr Morrison Ogunorebo-Ovia and the secretary, Mr Oyomire Idahosa by the council councillors.

The chairman and secretary were suspended for two months for alleged financial impropriety last Friday.
But the council boss described his suspension as illegal, while five other councillors loyal to him declared that it did not follow due process.

However, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mr Victor Edoror in a letter by the Deputy Clerk of the House, James Omoataman, said the provisions of section 19 of the Local Government Law 2000 as amended, must be adhered to until the House of Assembly investigates the issues and comes up with a decision.

Section 19 (9) states that the “holder of the office (of chairman) under investigation shall not be suspended within the period of the investigation,” adding that he was still in charge as the elected chief executive officer of the council.

The letter said “The purpose of this letter therefore, is for you to as a matter of urgency prevail on the legislative arm to stay action and the status quo ante remain pending the intervention of this House.”