Crisis deepens in Edo LGAs as Uhunmwonde, Orhionmwon chairmen impeached

The crisis rocking the 18 Local Government Areas in Edo State has continued unabated as Uhunmwonde and Orhionmwon council chairmen, Hon. Kenneth Adodo, Hon Newman Ugiagbe and their Vice Chairmen, were on Thursday impeached by members of the legislative Arm of their councils over alleged misconducts.

It was gathered that the development In Uhunmwonde led to the injuries of several persons as gunmen allegedly attacked bystanders during the impeachment process.

Reacting to the development, the Uhunmwonde Local Government Council Chairman, Adodo alleged that the people who came to shoot were policemen from the government house.

In Orhionmwon Local Government Council, it was learned that the Councilors in the Council on Wednesday impeached the Leader of the House, Hon Daniel Osariemen.

They were alleged to have subsequently replaced Hon. Osariemen with Hon Chuks Isan as they got wind that Osariemen was allegedly being mobilized to impeach the chairman, Hon Newman Ugiagbe and his Vice, Midwest Ogbebor.

Osariemen was alleged to have led unknown persons to take over the secretariat of the council in Abudu where he purportedly resumed as the Acting Chairman of the local government area.

But Hon. Newman Ugiagbe in a statement by his Press Secretary, Roy Osariemen, said the action in Abudu was illegal and that Ugiagbe remained the Chairman of the local government area.

Recall that the Owan East Local Government Council Chairman, Hon. Prince Aminu Okodo-Kadiri, was earlier impeached by councillors in the council over alleged gross misconduct.

But addressing journalists in Benin on Thursday, Hon. Okodo-Kadiri, said his impeachment processes were fraught with irregularities which, according to him, violated provisions of the law.

He referenced the Edo State Local Government Law of 2000 (as amended in 2002) which outlined specific procedures for the removal of council executives.

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Okodo also argued that the councillors failed to establish a seven-member investigative panel as mandated by the law even as he was denied the opportunity to defend himself before such a panel.

He pointed out that the mace used during the impeachment was not the official mace of the Owan East Local Government Council, thereby invalidating the process.

According to him, “the governor alleged that council chairmen embezzled ₦50 million meant for salaries, but this claim lacks merit.

“Monthly salary expenditures far exceed ₦50 million in most councils and salaries were paid promptly up to November, contrary to the governor’s claims.

“If funds were misappropriated, where is the proof? Our bank records are clear, and no salaries are owed.

“Moreso, the purported impeachment revealed that two key councillors were involved in the process—Hon. Haruna Mohammed and another member from Ward Seven who had been suspended for gross misconduct prior to the session.”

He argued that the suspended councillors’ participation in the process rendered the proceedings invalid and emphasised that his office was never notified of their reinstatement, as required by due process.

He however vowed to seek justice through the judiciary to restore justice and uphold the rule of law.

He expressed confidence in the court to overturn what he described as illegal and politically motivated impeachment.

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