From Esther Akaa, Lafia
Legislative Arm of Obi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State has impeached the Council Chairman, Hon. Mohammed Iyimoga over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office.
Leader of the Legislative Arm, Rt. Hon Luka Isaiah in a telephone interview on Monday in Lafia disclosed that 8 out of 10 councilors signed for the impeachment of the council boss.
Rt. Hon Isaiah alleged that the council Chairman embarked on projects involving millions of Naira without forwarding the proposals to the Legislative Arm for approval before execution.
He further alleged that the council Chairman had refused to provide the legislative arm detail breakdown of funds the local government accessed as revenue allocation from the state government since his assumption to office two years ago.
“The allocations sent from the state government to the LGA, the chairman does not disclose to us.
“The Chairman on three different occasions sent thugs to disrupt our house proceedings. “Again, he even denies us of the legislative mace during our council sittings . He usually stops the clerk of the house from carrying the mace .
“Therefore, the decision was a collective one . Eight council members signed for the impeachment notice and we are 10 in number”, he said
On his part, Councilor representing Obi Ward, Mr Matthew Odunaga said “I am the councilor representing Obi ward, I am from the same ward with the council chairman.
“We have many complaints of alleged breach of the constitution by the suspended chairman, Iyamoga.
“The constitution provides that he has to consult the legislature for any expenditure above 500,000 (Half million naira) but he has not.
“He did not present the budget for 2020 and the year is ending, he hide the mace whenever we were about to sit among many allegations,” he said.
Mr Odunagu further alleged that after the chairman’s impeachment , he sent thugs to beat and smash their cars, which they left and fled to Lafia, the state capital which is 32 kilometers away from Obi town.
In his reaction, the embattled Chairman Hon Iyimoga denied the allegation, saying the impeachment would not stand.
