By Itam Offor
The Cross River State House of Assembly (CRHA) has removed the Vice Chairman of Ogoja Local Government Council, Hon Emmanuel Idi Yakubu following allegations of gross misconduct.
The House voted via Division List where 19 Members voted for Yakubu’s removal, five Members were absent and one Member abstained from voting because he was the presiding officer.
Before voting, the House had deliberated on the report of its Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution presented by the Chairman, Rt Hon Davies Etta( Deputy Leader).
In the report, Etta recalled the Impeachment notice earlier signed against Yakubu by the Ogoja Legislative Council on allegations of gross misconduct including abandonment of duty, disregard for Constituted Authority and Rules of Engagement, Breach of Oath of Secrecy, lack of working synergy with the Chairman amongst others.
Etta further recalled that, after deliberating on the matter and relying on Section 14(3) of the Local Government Law, the House in its Resolution No 031 agreed that Yakubu be suspended for 90 days to allow for an investigation by his Committee.
According to Etta, his Committee held an investigative hearing where the Leader of Council, Hon Elizabeth Mbim, other Ward Councillors and the Director of General Services and Administration representing the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) were all present and gave testimonies.
He added that the Vice Chairman who was absent, wrote to his Committee appealing for another date on grounds of ill health even though he was spotted at a political rally where he publicly defected from the All Progressive Congress( APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Etta stated that, his Committee found out that, Yakubu was,
“no longer interested in his office by leaving the party that brought him into office as Vice Chairman to join another party and work for it.
“His actions justify the fact that he no longer takes instructions from his superior. This is purely an infraction of Section 20(1) of the CRS Local Government Law, 2007 (as amended) which state.
“The Vice Chairman lacks synergy with the Council Chairman and even the Legislative Council. This is a total disregard for constitutional authority, thus constituting gross misconduct. He actions or activities if not checked may mar the success of the Local Government”.
In separate remarks, Members who contributed to the debate observed with dismay, that, the Vice Chairman’s actions were inimical to the progresss of Ogoja Local Government Council.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon Sylvester Agabi, who presided over the sitting reiterated the Assembly’s commitment to the Rule of Law in the Administration of the third tier of government. He directed that Hon Yakubu should hand over all Government property in his custody to the most senior Civil Servant in the Council.
