Members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, from Eti Osa East Local Council Development Area on Monday, staged a peaceful protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja saying allegations of fraud levelled against the council chairman, Mr John Ogundare are unfounded.
On Thursday last week, a group led by one Mr Segun Williams came to the Assembly to compel lawmakers to remove Mr Ogundare over allegation of one point nine billion naira fraud.
They emphasized the urgent need for the Chairman’s suspension to prevent further escalation of the situation. Williams stated that Ogundare had been indicted in an investigative report by the legislative council for misappropriating the Council’s 2023 budget, warranting his removal from office.
“We seek his suspension pending the conclusion of the Lagos State House of Assembly’s investigation into the matter. The allegations against the Chairman were outlined in a report sent to your distinguished selves on 19th December 2023,” Williams said.
The report, signed by the majority leader of Eti-Osa LCDA, revealed that the Chairman had diverted funds designated for critical sectors such as health and education. Further allegations raised by the protesters included failure to pay running costs to various Council departments in accordance with the 2023 budget, neglecting balance payments to past political office holders against governmental advice, unauthorized project execution, and contract awards without legislative approval.
The Chairman was also accused of non-adherence to the 2023 budget for school and primary healthcare construction/renovation, as well as failure to comply with legislative requests for income and expenditure records. He was found to have consistently approved contracts exceeding his limit of N35 million.
The Councilors also accused the LCDA treasurer and auditor of dereliction of duty for withholding financial details and comprehensive activity reports.
Addressing journalists, Hon. Adebola Shabi (Lagos Mainland 2) and Hon. Solomon Bonu from Badagry constituency 1 assured the protesters of the House’s intervention and urged them to peacefully return to their homes.
But in a counter protest to the House, the Chairman of the APC in Eti Osa East LCDA, Mr Adekunle Odunuga said the allegation was a witchhunt, urging the lawmakers to hands off the matter.
Another APC leader from Eti Osa East LCDA, Apostle Olusoji Faguda said the council chairman had carried out many projects and should not be rewarded with a frivolous allegation.
Addressing the protesters, the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency one at the Lagos State Assembly, Mr Desmond Elliot in the company of Hon. Adebola Shabi (Lagos Mainland 2) said the House would deliberate on the matter fairly and justly.