- Adedayo had in a letter to former Governor Segun Osoba and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of pocketing the local government funds.
- Abiodun had refuted the allegations and insisted that his administration always supplements LGs’ allocations
The furore over local government funds in Ogun state has taken a new turn as the fate of the man in the eye of the storm, Wale Adedayo, is now hanging in the balance.
Adebayo is the Chairman of Ijebu-East Local Government Area who accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of diverting councils’ allocations.
Adedayo had in a letter to former Governor Segun Osoba and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleged that Governor Dapo Abiodun was diverting the local government funds.
Abiodun had refuted the allegations and insisted that his administration always supplements LGs’ allocations to enable them meet monthly obligations.
But in an unexpected turn of events, all elected Council chairmen on Tuesday afternoon led by their leader, Hon Babatunde Emilola-Gazal, meet with the governor, prostrated and begged Governor Abiodun for forgiveness.
The viral clip which showed the elected officials genuflecting and beseeching the governor to forgive them sparked uproar, especially on social media, with many chastising the governor.
Adedayo who raised the allegations against Abiodun was said to have attended the reconciliatory meeting.
However, reports emerged on Thursday, that the councilors of the local government area have suspended Adedayo.
It’s gathered that some armed policemen and hoodlums stormed the council secretariat in Ogbere on Thursday morning over plot to remove the embattled chairman.
He was also invited by the DSS over the allegations against the governor.
Adedayo confirmed alleged invasion of the secretariat in a Facebook post.
Adedayo in a Facebook post said, “invading peaceful Ogbere community with mobile policemen in order to impeach Wale Adedayo is desperation. As I told the SSG yesterday, we took an oath with our fathers that that we’ll make this land better than we met it. You can kill the body, but not the spirit of Wale Adedayo.”
Meanwhile, Councilors in the LG have announced suspension of the Chairman for three months on allegations of maladministration and financial mismanagement.
Seven Councilors, on Thursday said the Legislative Council received various allegations that need to be investigated and directed Adedayo to appear at its next sitting on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
According to them, fifteen allegations were levelled against the chairman.
The seven councilors are, Fasheyi Akindele Adesuji, the Leader of the House, Bolutife Osunfisan, Deputy Leader, Kemi Aliu, Adeniyi Adenuga, Abass Sidikat, Biyi Oguntubo, and Rotimi Olubode Williams
They resolved that “That the Chairman steps aside for the proper conduct of investigations.
“The Council Chairman, Hon. Wale Adedayo, is hereby suspended for three months pending the conclusion of the investigations and therefore directed to handover all the properties of the Council in his possession to the Vice Chairman, who will act as the Chairman during the suspension of the Chairman as provided in the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The Council Chairman is directed to appear before the House on the next sitting of the House on Thursday, September 14, 2023.
“That the Council Treasurer, through the Head of the Local Government Administration (HOLGA) should furnish the financial/bank statement of the Council in the last two years, along with other relevant documents and vouchers as the House may require in order to aid investigations.
“That the above Resolutions be copied to the Governor of Ogun State and the Ogun State House of Assembly.
“The sitting is hereby adjourned to Thursday, September 14, 2023.”
Adedayo has not responded to enquiry from our correspondent as of the time of this report