By Jethro Ibileke
The Chairman of Egor Local Government Council in Edo State, Eghe Ogbemudia, has been reportedly impeached by the Legislative arm of the Council.
Also impeached was the Council’s Vice Chairman, Mr. Frank Osawe.
They were impeached Friday afternoon during plenary at the Legislative Chambers of the Council by the new legislative leadership, led by Kelvin Eguakun.
She is the daughter of a former governor of the old Midwest and Bendel States, Brig-Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia.
The motion for the impeachment was moved by Hon. Nosakhare Isiegbuwa and seconded by Hon. Stella Ogida Osagioduwa.
Eghe Ogbemudia and Osawe were impeached based on four charges of alleged gross misconduct, namely: abuse of office, financial misappropriation, unlawful withholding of statutory allowances of a principal member and three other Council members as well as budget padding.
The motion for the impeachment was moved by Hon. Nosakhare Isiegbuwa and seconded by Hon. Stella Ogida Osagioduwa.
The impeachment proceedings have already been formally documented in the Edo State Government Gazette, notifying the affected officials of the initiation of impeachment proceedings in line with the recently enacted Egor LG Bye-law on Pre-Action Notice, Legislative Privileges, and Impeachment Proceedings For Elected Council Officials.
Sequel to the impeachment of the council chairman and her vice chairman, the legislative council suspended it’s leadership, under Hon. Bosede Omokaro (Leader), Hon. Iwinosa Enabulele (Majority Leader), and Hon. Amb. Elliot Inneh Enni (Chief Whip).
Subsequently, the new leadership with Hon. Kelvin Eguakun as Leader acted swiftly upon receiving a signed petition from four Council members calling for the removal of the local government chairman and vice chairman.
Meanwhile, the Leader of the legislative arm, Kelvin Eguakun, has been sworn in as acting Chairman.
It would be recalled that the Chairmen of the 18 local government councils in the state and their vices have been in a running battle with the State House of Assembly and Governor Monday Okpebholo for several weeks.
Following their refusal to honour Governor Okpebholo’s demand that the chairmen submit account details to the State Assets Verification Committee, the Governor wrote to the Assembly, accusing the chairmen of gross misconduct and insubordination.
Thereafter, the Assembly slammed a two-month suspension on the chairmen and their vices.
A Benin City High Court, presided over by the State Chief Judge, Justice Daniel Okungbowa however voided the suspension.