…Urges Assembly To Hold Public Hearing On Alleged Diversions
By Adeniyi Adedeji, Ilorin
The Kwara State governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has invited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to probe alleged diversion of funds at the 16 local government areas of the state.
This was just as Governor AbdulRazaq has also asked the state House of Assembly to hold public hearings on the alleged diverted funds in the council areas.
The governor urged the EFCC to independently investigate total funds so far received and disbursed to the 16 local government areas between May 2019 and now.
Making the calls in a statement by his spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaiye, the governor also revealed that a panel of inquiry comprising members from various backgrounds would also be set up to look into the local council funds.
Ajakaiye said, “For the sake of accountability and transparency, the governor is hereby calling on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to conduct urgent probe into funds so far received as allocations and spent by the 16 local governments between May 29 and now.
“Separately, the governor will also be setting up a Panel of inquiry in the immediate, to look into the same issues. Members of the panel and its terms of reference would be announced soon.
“This probe is borne out of the fact that this administration has not touched a kobo of money belonging to the local governments. It has nothing to hide.
“But for abundance of caution, the governor will be tasking not just the EFCC, but also a panel of inquiry with members drawn from various backgrounds to investigate the local government funds, how they have been spent, and expose any mismanagement or diversion of the funds (if any).
“The call becomes necessary in view of the outrageous claims by some persons that money to the tune of N300 million was diverted monthly from local government accounts.
“This administration feels this deserves to be probed and laid to rest because governance is about public trust.
“Similarly, His Excellency appeals to the House of Assembly, which comprises the elected representatives of the people with oversight powers, to hold a public hearing on the said matter.”
Governor AbdulRazaq reiterated that he would not be found mismanaging or siphoning public funds, maintaining that going by his days in the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, local governments should be allowed to manage their own funds with minimal or no supervision by the state as the law may allows
The governor warned that any official found to have diverted or mismanaged public funds under him would be made to account for same as prescribed under the law.
