By Mumini Abdulkareem
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is furthering its
investigation of the suspended 16 Local Government Chairmen in Kwara
State, National Pilot reliably gathered, last night.
The affected council bosses were arrested and quizzed for hours by the
anti-graft body penultimate week over allegation of embezzlement and
misappropriation of their council funds.
Their suspension by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq followed the
recommendation by the state House of Assembly after a petition to that
effect was addressed to the lawmakers.
The joint House Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Judiciary and
Local Government and Chieftaincy that investigated the matter
subsequently indicted them.
While the embattled chairmen initially rejected the suspension citing
an existing court order restraining the governor or legislature from
taking such action, 12 of them later initiated the possibility of a
โpolitical solutionโ.
The chairmen of Ilorin West, Hon Aminat Omodara, her Ilorin East
counterpart, Engr. Abdulmumin Lah, Hon Muyiwa Oladipo (Irepodun) and
Comrade Yinka Ayeni Dallas (Ekiti) previously backed out of such move
and maintained it will go ahead with the litigation to challenge what
they described as their illegal suspension by the executive and
legislature.
But the four council officials later joined their 12 other colleagues
after they reportedly wrote an apology letter to the Kwara State House
of Assembly for not honouring its summon on the issue, a move that did
not stop their arrest and investigation by the anti-graft agency.
There were speculations last week that the EFCC after the release of
the suspended council bosses has kept sealed lips on the next line of
action and when they will be arraigned.
Efforts to get the Zonal Head of the commission, Isyaku Sharu were not
successful last night as his phone was switched off.
But a source in the commission confirmed that EFCC was still
investigating the matter.
According to the source, โActually investigation is still ongoing and
the commission is still making efforts to recover the funds they were
alleged to have collected. There is nothing about their arraignment
yetโ, the source added.
One of the affected chairmen during a telephone chat last night said
that the EFCC is still continuing its investigation on the matter.
โThe EFCC will not just arrest and charge you to court. They are still
investigating the matter, collecting statements and carrying out
invitations of persons in relation to the case.
โThat is the stage we are now. We were released on self recognition
and our passports are with them and we will make ourselves available
whenever they need us. But for now, nothing like thatโ, the source
submitted.
