By Jude- Ken Ojinnaka
Chairman of Ijebu East Local Government, Wale Adedayo, has been impeached by the legislative councillors over what they claim was financial misappropriation and diversion of funds.
Adedayo had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over withholding of council funds by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
The Department of State Services later arrested Adedayo on the alleged instruction of the governor.
He was released days later following social media outrage.
On Thursday, leader of the Ijebu East Legislative Council, Fasheyi Akindele, in a statement, said Adedayo was impeached after he appeared before the councillors, following an invitation extended to him over allegations of fund mismanagement
According to Akindele, after a series of invitations by the House, which were ignored in the past, Adedayo eventually appeared before the legislative council as the councillors continued their probe of the chairman.
“The suspended Chairman owned up before the full house of 11 councillors that he diverted federal allocations sent to the Council by the State Government and used them for purposes other than what the State Government approved,” leader of the councillors claim in a statement.
“Adedayo also agreed that he spent the Council funds till August 2023, even when the budget was yet to be approved, whereas the laws only allow him to spend till March 2023.
“Adedayo also opened up that he used N5.2 million to produce 20 pieces of chairs and tables instead of the 290 chairs that the money was meant for as approved by the state government.
“On the issue of illegal levies and stickers to commercial transport operators in the Local government, Adedayo said he thought the House had passed the Bill to that effect, but the Leader of the House reminded him that a bill, if passed by the House, would have been jointly signed by the Leader of the House and the Council Chairman.
“That the chairman has run foul of the laws of the land, specifically the Ogun State Local Government Laws 2006 and committed serious impeachable offences was therefore established.
“After about three hours of deliberation, the impeachment of the Chairman was put to votes. Five councillors voted for his impeachment, four voted against, with one abstention
“Therefore, the Leader of the House pronounced Mr. Wale Adedayo impeached as the Chairman of Ijebu East LG,” Akindele said.
