The Yala Local Government Chairman in Cross River State, Mr Fred Okem, was on Tuesday impeached by the council lawmakers on the allegations of financial misappropriation.
The 11-point impeachment notice, which was signed by 12 of the 14 lawmakers, based Okem’s impeachment on the state local government Law No. 2 (2007) section 3, subsection 3a-d.
The chairman was also accused of gross misconduct in carrying out his functions as the council boss.
According to the notice of impeachment, the chairman was alleged of misappropriation of funds and waste in council’s projects.
The council lawmakers also accused the chairman of failure to officially address the legislative arm on the state of affairs of the local government as enshrined in the local government law section 3 subsection (1).
Similarly, his impeachment was also based on his refusal to present income and expenditure to the council as enshrined in state local government law section 3(d).
Okem was further accused of refusal to assent to motions and resolutions passed by the legislative council, hence neglecting implementation of such resolutions, thereby making the arm of local government ineffective.
He was also alleged to have implemented policies without wide consultation to get the best results.
The councillors also bemoaned the overbearing influence of the chairman’s wife over every administrative running of the council, which they claimed had affected the smooth running of the council.
They further premised the chairman’s removal on his refusal to make funds available for them to renovate and access their offices nine months after inauguration.
When contacted, the spokesman of the council chairman, Mr Emmanuel Unah, said his boss will speak on the matter at the appropriate time, as he was in a meeting with the state governor.