Female A’Ibom council chairman in trouble for allegedly squandering funds for secretary’s car
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The Executive Chairman of Nsit Atai Local Government Area, Hon. Emem Ibanga, who, for some years has been a regular visitor to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly to answer queries bordering on alleged financial impropriety and shortchanging of council staff and councillors, has made a return to the Assembly to answer a query for allegedly refusing to procure a vehicle for the Secretary of Council, Mr. Sunday Udia.
News Band gathered that Hon. Ibanga failed to procure vehicle for the Secretary despite the fact that funds have been released for that purpose by the state government, leading to suspicions by insiders that she may have allegedly squandered the funds allocated for the Local Government Secretary’s car.
The Assembly, acting on a petition from the Council Secretary, referred the matter to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs headed by Hon. Mfon Idung of Etim Ekpo/ Ika State Consistency.
Appearing before the committee during a closed-door session on Thursday, the Council Chairman and Council Secretary presented their briefs.
During the interaction, it was revealed that she had procured and released official vehicles to the Vice Chairman of Council and Leader of Council but declined procuring same for the Council Secretary on the solitary ground that he is an ally of another political bigwig (name withheld) from the area.
The Committee, however, ordered her to procure a brand-new vehicle and bring same to the Assembly premises on 13th October, 2023, for inspection to ascertain its quality before it is presented to the council secretary.
By insisting that the vehicle be brought for inspection, our Assembly sources said the committee probably got wind of the information that rickety vehicles were repainted and handed over to the Vice Chairman and Leader of the Council.
The committee had actually demanded that the council secretary’s vehicle be procured with immediate effect but the council chairman pleaded to be given few weeks, and the committee granted her request by fixing 13th October, 2023, as date for presentation.
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When contacted by this reporter, Hon. Ibanga said she was not aware of the development.
“I am not aware of it, please, thank you,” she answered. Read more.
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